Canada advances to World Cup Round of 16 with dramatic late win over South Africa

Canada clinched a thrilling 1-0 win against South Africa, punching their ticket to the 2026 World Cup Round of 16. The victory made them the first nation to secure a spot in the tournament's third phase.

The match saw early dominance from the hosts, who pressed hard against the South African defense. While Canada controlled possession and created chances, they couldn't find the net before halftime. South Africa, led by Oswin Appollis, grew into the game in the second half, generating most of the scoring opportunities and testing the Canadian goalkeeper.

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Canada captured a dramatic 1-0 victory over South Africa to become the first team to qualify for the 2026 World Cup knockout stage.

However, Canada regained momentum late in the game. Substitute Alphonso Davies, entering in the 75th minute, injected new energy into the team. In stoppage time, Stephen Eustaquio capitalized on a rebound at the edge of the box, scoring the decisive goal in the 91st minute and igniting celebrations.

Canada now advances to face either the Netherlands or Morocco in the Round of 16. Their knockout stage match is scheduled for Saturday, July 4, at 1:00 PM local time.

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Stephen Eustaquio (90+1') captured a rebound and shot from the edge of the area to unleash madness among the hosts of the tournament.