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Canada created another milestone at the FIFA World Cup 2026, becoming the first team to qualify for the Round of 16 after a dramatic 92nd-minute goal by Stephen Eustáquio secured a 1-0 victory over South Africa in Los Angeles on Sunday.
The achievement marked another first involving the tournament’s co-hosts. When the World Cup began on June 11, Mexico became the first team to register a victory, defeating South Africa 2-0 in a match that featured three red cards. Canada has now become the first nation to book its place in the Round of 16, with South Africa once again ending up on the losing side.
Canada will now face the winner of Monday’s Round of 32 match between the Netherlands and Morocco, with the winner advancing to Saturday’s clash in Houston.
Elsewhere, Lionel Messi scored his sixth goal of the tournament as defending champion Argentina defeated Jordan 3-1. Argentina joined Mexico and France as the only teams to win all three of their group-stage matches. Messi also became one of the few players to score in each of his team’s three group games.
In other results, Algeria and Austria played to an entertaining 3-3 draw, England defeated last-place Panama 2-0, Croatia edged Ghana 2-1, and Portugal and Colombia settled for a scoreless draw. Colombia finished atop its group, while Portugal advanced in second place.
“All my players are Canadian heroes,” said a jubilant Canada head coach Jesse Marsch after the match.
Canada’s World Cup campaign has been historic from the outset. The team earned its first-ever World Cup point in three appearances with a 1-1 draw against Bosnia and Herzegovina before recording its first tournament victory with a commanding 6-0 win over Qatar.
A 2-1 loss to Switzerland in the final group-stage match left Canada second in its group, making it the first of the three co-host nations to travel outside its home country for a knockout-stage match.
Los Angeles proved to be a fortunate venue. Facing South Africa, which was also making its first appearance in the Round of 32, Canada secured a dramatic victory when Eustáquio found the net in second-half stoppage time. The goal was his fifth in 60 international appearances and one of the biggest in Canadian men’s soccer history.
Canada’s breakthrough sparked celebrations across the country and among supporters throughout North America.
Although Canada surrendered the home-field advantage it enjoyed during the group stage, thousands of Canadian fans traveled to California to support the team.
Marsch made four changes to the starting lineup following the loss to Switzerland. Central defender Moïse Bombito made his first start of the tournament, while Tani Oluwaseyi, Liam Millar, and Stephen Eustáquio all returned to the starting XI after coming off the bench in the previous match. Midfielder Ismaël Koné remained sidelined with an injury.
Despite Marsch’s earlier indication that captain Alphonso Davies would make his tournament debut, the star defender did not start the match.
Canada created the first clear scoring opportunity in the 17th minute when Jonathan David fired wide after connecting with a Eustáquio corner kick.
Five minutes later, Derek Cornelius headed a Eustáquio free kick directly at South African goalkeeper Ronwen Williams. Oluwaseyi tested Williams again in the 34th minute with a difficult-angle shot that the goalkeeper comfortably collected.
Canada nearly broke through just before halftime when Bombito’s header was cleared off the goal line by South African defenders.
The Canadians appealed for a penalty during first-half stoppage time after Richie Laryea went down inside the penalty area, but the referee waved play on and the video assistant referee did not intervene.
The teams entered halftime locked in a scoreless draw.
Canada continued to press after the break. Second-half substitute Niko Sigur sent Oluwaseyi in on goal in the 65th minute, but Williams produced another important save before the rebound was cleared away ahead of Jonathan David.
Davies finally entered the match in the 75th minute and nearly made an immediate impact, helping set up Promise David for a long-range effort that sailed just centimeters wide.
With extra time appearing inevitable, Eustáquio delivered the decisive moment. Deep into second-half stoppage time, he struck home the winning goal to send Canada into the Round of 16 and continue the country’s historic FIFA World Cup run.
