South Africa vs Canada Preview: Team News & Prediction | FIFA World Cup 2026 | Round of 32
The opening game of the knockout stages at FIFA World Cup 2026 comes in Los Angeles as surprise qualifiers South Africa take on tournament co-hosts Canada.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – ITV / USA – FOX Sports
How to watch online: UK – ITVX / USA – FOX One
South Africa preview: Big win for Bafana Bafana
South Africa began their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign with an underwhelming performance in the opening game of the tournament as they succumbed to a 2-0 loss to co-hosts Mexico in Mexico City, with both Sphephelo Sithole and Themba Zwane sent off in a game that needed to be brushed aside by Hugo Broos.
Bafana Bafana were staring down the barrel in their second game but a late Teboho Mokoena penalty earned them a 1-1 draw against Czechia before they then snatched a surprise 1-0 win against Korea Republic, courtesy of a Thapelo Maseko winner in the second half, to finish second in Group A.
Canada preview: Heading to the USA
Jesse Marsch and the Canadians will be frustrated to be heading into the knockout stages in the USA, rather than still at home in Vancouver where they would have played had they won Group B, but they instead finished second behind Switzerland after losing 2-1 to the Swiss in their final group game.
The Canadians began their group stage with a nervy performance as they shared a 1-1 draw against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Toronto. That was then followed up by a 6-0 demolition of Qatar in Vancouver, which was their first and still only FIFA World Cup win and a record victory by a CONCACAF side.
South Africa team news: Zwane still suspended
Themba Zwane was sent off for violent conduct against Mexico and he was handed a three-match ban by FIFA, which has been upheld despite a South African appeal and so he remains suspended for this one.
Their first-choice midfield pairing of Sphephelo Sithole and Teboho Mokoena haven't played together since the opener with Sithole suspended against the Czechs and then Mokoena missing against the Koreans but both are now back available.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Williams; Mudau, Okon, Mbokazi, Modiba; Sithole, Mokoena; Maseko, Mofokeng, Appollis; Makgopa
Unavailable: Zwane (Suspended)
Questionable:
Canada team news: Davies to play
Jesse Marsch said he was successful in fooling Switzerland by suggesting Alphonso Davies was available. He instead was an unused substitute but the Canada boss has again confirmed he will now actually play Davies here - but given his self-proclaimed deception, that may well have to be taken with a pinch of salt.
Ismael Kone is out for the tournament after a horrific leg break against Qatar, while former Porto midfielder Stephen Eustaquio started on the bench against the Swiss due to his own fitness issues but he is expected to be fit to return to the eleven here.
Predicted XI (4-4-2): Crepeau; Johnston, De Fougerolles, Cornelius, Laryea; Buchanan, Eustaquio, Saliba, Davies; J. David, Larin
Unavailable: Kone (Injured)
Questionable: Jones (Injured), Davies (Fitness), Eustaquio (Fitness)
South Africa’s top FIFA World Cup Fantasy assets
Aubrey Modiba ($3.7m) – Defender
Ime Okon ($3.5m) – Defender
Thapelo Maseko ($4.2m) – Forward
Matchday 4 captain pick: Thapelo Maseko
Set-piece duty
Penalties: Oswin Appollis
Free kicks: Oswin Appollis
Corners: Oswin Appollis, Relebohile Mofokeng
Canada’s top FIFA World Cup Fantasy assets
Maxime Crepeau ($4.0m) – Goalkeeper
Jonathan David ($7.0m) – Forward
Cyle Larin ($6.2m) – Forward
Matchday 4 captain pick: Jonathan David
Set-piece duty
Penalties: Jonathan David
Free kicks: Alphonso Davies
Corners: Alphonso Davies, Stephen Eustaquio
Key stats
- The only previous meeting between the teams was a 2-0 victory for South Africa in a November 2007 friendly in Durban.
- Both South Africa and Canada are featuring in a knockout round match at the World Cup for the first time.
- South Africa are aiming to win successive World Cup matches for the first time.
- The 1-0 victory over Korea Republic was South Africa’s first clean sheet at the FIFA World Cup since a 1-0 win over Slovenia in 2002 and just their second overall.
- South Africa have scored in nine of their last 11 World Cup matches.
- Canada have won only one of their nine World Cup matches (D1 L7).
- Canada have scored in their last five successive fixtures at the World Cup – their longest goalscoring streak.
- Canada’s total of eight goals scored at the 2026 finals is their highest tally in a World Cup edition – beating the two they recorded in 2022.
- South Africa’s Mbekezeli Mbozaki and Canada’s Joel Waterman are current club colleagues at MLS side Chicago Fire.
- Three Canada squad members – Mathieu Choinière, Stephen Eustáquio and Jacob Shaffelburg – play their club football in Los Angeles with LAFC, whose BMO Stadium is only a few miles away from the venue for this fixture.
Click here for EVEN MORE stats & facts about this fixture!
South Africa vs Canada prediction
South Africa have been known to play quite an easy-on-the-eye style of football with a possession-based approach that can often be undermined by a lack of quality in the final third.
They went away from that in their opener with the pressure of opening the tournament against a Mexico side with the home crowd. While Canada may not have it all their own way in terms of a home crowd, plenty will make the trip south down to Los Angeles and so South Africa will be fearful of going into their shells once again.
Canada may be a rung below the likes of Switzerland, who are on the periphery of the elite but perennial knockout stage qualifiers in major tournaments, but should fancy themselves to be better than teams of the ilk of South Africa.
Tension may ensure it is not fluent from the Canadians but the quality that they do possess should see them over the line and head into the Round of 16 of a FIFA World Cup for the first time ever.
South Africa vs Canada betting tip: Canada to win
