Round of 32 opener: South Africa vs Canada

The Round of 32 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup begins with South Africa against Canada. The match at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles carries historic significance for both nations, as South Africa and Canada are each playing a World Cup knockout match for the first time in their history. The winner advances to the Round of 16; the loser is out.

South Africa, under Hugo Broos, recovered from a poor start to the group. After a 2-0 defeat to Mexico, Bafana Bafana drew 1-1 with Czechia and then beat South Korea 1-0 in their final match to finish second in Group A. The team's greatest strength has been defensive discipline, conceding only twice in three games. South Africa will again look to sit deep and seek results on the counter. The suspended Themba Zwane is unavailable after his red card, while Teboho Mokoena returns to midfield after a one-game ban.

Jesse Marsch's Canada stand out for their attacking power. After a 1-1 draw with Bosnia and Herzegovina and a 6-0 thrashing of Qatar, Canada lost to Switzerland in their final game to finish second in Group B. Jonathan David — with three goals at the tournament (including a hat-trick against Qatar) and his country's all-time leading scorer — is their biggest weapon. Cyle Larin has chipped in with two goals. However, Canada are cautious over Alphonso Davies, returning from injury; the star is expected to start on the bench. Midfielder Ismaël Koné is out of the tournament with a broken leg.

Although the market makes Canada favorites, knockout football is rarely straightforward. There is also an intriguing detail: having finished second and lost home advantage, Canada will play this match in the USA, becoming the first World Cup host nation to play a game outside its own borders.

If the score is level after 90 minutes, the tie goes to extra time and, if needed, penalties. In this fixture, where both nations are so close to making history, Canada's attacking power meets South Africa's defensive resilience.

Predicted lineups:
South Africa (4-2-3-1): Williams; Mudau, Okon, Mbokazi, Modiba; Mbatha, Mokoena; Maseko, Mofokeng, Appollis; Makgopa.
Canada (4-4-2): Crépeau; Johnston, De Fougerolles, Cornelius, Laryea; Buchanan, Saliba, Choinière, Ahmed; David, Larin.

Image: Yahoo Sports