South Africa vs Canada Preview

Sunday evening at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles delivers one of the more intriguing Round of 32 matchups as South Africa take on Canada in a straight knockout fixture. Both sides arrive with plenty to prove — South Africa as group runners-up in Group A, qualifying behind an unbeaten Mexico side, while Canada came through Group B in second place behind Switzerland. One slip and the tournament is over; it is knockout football at its most unforgiving.

South Africa navigated Group A with a combination of grit and efficiency. Their most recent outing was a 1–0 win at home against South Korea on 25th June — the result that confirmed their second-place finish and set up this last-thirty-two tie. Prior to that, they drew 1–1 away to Czech Republic on 18th June, claiming a valuable point in a competitive fixture. Earlier in this run, a 2–0 defeat away to Mexico on 11th June was the one significant setback, while a 1–1 draw away in Jamaica on 6th June and a 0–0 draw at home to Nicaragua on 29th May in a pre-tournament friendly round out a sequence of one win, three draws and one loss. South Africa finished second in Group A on four points, with a goal difference of -1, behind Mexico who swept the group with a perfect nine points.

Canada were one of the more eye-catching sides in the group stage, particularly their 6–0 demolition of Qatar. Their most recent outing was a 2–1 defeat away to Switzerland on 24th June — a result that denied them top spot but left them secure in second place on four points. Prior to that, they thrashed Qatar 6–0 at home on 18th June in a dominant display that showcased their attacking quality. Earlier in this run, a 1–1 draw at home to Bosnia & Herzegovina on 12th June, a 1–1 draw at home to Ireland on 6th June in a friendly, and a 2–0 home win over Uzbekistan on 2nd June complete a sequence of two wins, two draws and one defeat. Canada finished second in Group B on four points with a goal difference of +5, behind Switzerland who took seven from a possible nine.

The head-to-head record between these sides is almost entirely absent from the record books. The one previous meeting, a friendly in November 2007, ended 2–0 to South Africa at home — the only data point available.

In the UK, the match is live on ITV 1 and available to stream via ITVX and STV Player, with radio commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live and TalkSport Radio UK. In Canada, audiences can follow on TSN+, TSN1, RDS, and CTV. South African viewers can catch the action on SuperSport MaXimo 1, SABC 1, SABC 3, and DStv App. US viewers have access via FOX Network, fuboTV, Telemundo, and Telemundo Deportes En Vivo.

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Possible Lineups

South Africa (4-2-3-1) Williams, Mudau, Mbatha, Okon, Modiba, Maseko, Mbokazi, Mofokeng, Sithole, Appollis, Makgopa

Canada (4-4-2) Crépeau, Laryea, Cornelius, De Fougerolles, Johnston, Ahmed, Choinière, Saliba, Buchanan, David, Larin

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Group A Table

Pos.	Team	MP	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	P
1	Mexico	3	3	0	0	6	0	+6	9
2	South Africa	3	1	1	1	2	3	-1	4
3	Korea Republic	3	1	0	2	2	3	-1	3
4	Czech Republic	3	0	1	2	2	6	-4	1

Group B Table

Pos.	Team	MP	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	P
1	Switzerland	3	2	1	0	7	3	+4	7
2	Canada	3	1	1	1	8	3	+5	4
3	Bosnia and Herzegovina	3	1	1	1	5	6	-1	4
4	Qatar	3	0	1	2	2	10	-8	1

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South Africa Form

Result	Home Team	Score	Away Team	Competition	Date
✅	South Africa	1–0	South Korea	World Cup	25-06-26
🤝	Czech Republic	1–1	South Africa	World Cup	18-06-26
❌	Mexico	2–0	South Africa	World Cup	11-06-26
🤝	Jamaica	1–1	South Africa	Friendly	06-06-26
🤝	South Africa	0–0	Nicaragua	Friendly	29-05-26

Canada Form

Result	Home Team	Score	Away Team	Competition	Date
❌	Switzerland	2–1	Canada	World Cup	24-06-26
✅	Canada	6–0	Qatar	World Cup	18-06-26
🤝	Canada	1–1	Bosnia & Herzegovina	World Cup	12-06-26
🤝	Canada	1–1	Ireland	Friendly	06-06-26
✅	Canada	2–0	Uzbekistan	Friendly	02-06-26

Head-to-Head

Home Team	Score	Away Team	Competition	Date
South Africa	2–0	Canada	Friendly	20-11-07

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TV Listings / Streaming

Country	Channel
Great Britain	ITV 1 UK, ITVX, STV Scotland, TalkSport Radio UK, BBC Radio 5 Live
Ireland Republic	ITV 1 UK, RTE 2, ITVX, RTE Player, BBC Radio 5 Live
Canada	TSN+, TSN1, RDS, CTV, Crave
South Africa	SuperSport MaXimo 1, SABC 1, SABC 3, DStv App, SuperSport GOtv Football
USA	FOX Network, fuboTV, Telemundo, Telemundo Deportes En Vivo, FOX One
France	M6, beIN Sports 1, M6+, myCANAL
Germany	SRF zwei, MagentaTV
Australia	SBS, SBS On Demand
Spain	DAZN Spain, DAZN Mundial, Movistar+
Netherlands	NPO 1, NPO Start, Ziggo Go