World Cup
Canada clinches round‑of‑16 spot with late strike in Los Angeles
In Los Angeles today, Canada secured a place in the World Cup round of 16 after a dramatic injury‑time strike. The North American side edged South Africa 0‑1, becoming the tournament’s first qualifier for the knockout phase.
Both teams searched for openings in the first half, but chances were scarce. Canadian defender Derek Cornelius headed wide, while Moise Bombito rose above the crowd to meet a cross, only for South African goalkeeper Ronwen Williams to be struck but Aubrey Modiba to clear the ball from the line.
Just before the halftime whistle, referee Joao Pedro Pinheiro oversaw a contentious moment when Richie Laryea fell in the penalty area. The referee did not award a penalty, leaving the Canadian side frustrated as the half ended.
The second half offered few chances, with South Africa limited to occasional long shots. Defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi performed an acrobatic block to deny Jonathan David a clear scoring opportunity.
Coach Jesse Marsch introduced Bayern Munich winger Alphonso Davies from the bench after 75 minutes, handing him the captain’s armband. Davies, who missed earlier matches with a hamstring injury, entered the game eager to make an impact.
In the final moments, Stephen Eustaquio broke free and struck the ball, finding the net just before the whistle. His goal proved decisive, sealing the 0‑1 victory for Canada.
With the win, Canada became the first nation to book a round‑of‑16 berth at the 2026 World Cup. The result also informs the Netherlands and Morocco that their potential opponent will be Canada, with the winner of their clash scheduled for 4 July at NRG Stadium in Houston, kicking off at 19:00 CET.