Canada Advances to World Cup Round of 16 with Historic Knockout Victory

Canada earned one of the biggest victories in the country’s soccer history on Sunday, defeating South Africa 1-0 in the opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 32.

Midfielder Stephen Eustáquio delivered the decisive moment with a dramatic stoppage-time goal, sending the co-host nation into the Round of 16 for the first time ever. The victory capped another milestone in Canada’s rapidly growing soccer program and kept alive its hopes of a deep run on home soil.

The match remained scoreless for more than 90 minutes as both teams struggled to create clear scoring opportunities. Canada controlled much of the possession and generated the better chances before Eustáquio’s strike finally broke the deadlock in the 92nd minute.

The Canadians will now face the winner of Monday’s Round of 32 matchup between the Netherlands and Morocco on July 4.

Round of 32 Opens After Busy Weekend

The knockout stage officially began after the conclusion of group play on Friday and Saturday, setting the field for the tournament’s Round of 32.

Several favorites secured favorable positions entering the knockout rounds, including Argentina, France, Germany, England and Portugal. Meanwhile, the United States, Mexico and Canada all advanced as host nations, creating plenty of optimism across North America heading into the elimination stage.

Canada became the first team to book its place in the Round of 16, while the remaining Round of 32 matches will be played throughout the week.

Games on Tap Today

Monday features three Round of 32 matchups as several championship contenders begin their knockout campaigns.

• Brazil vs. Japan
  • Time: 1 p.m. ET
  • Location: Houston
  • TV: FOX
  • What to watch: Brazil enters as one of the tournament favorites but faces an unbeaten Japanese squad that impressed throughout group play.
• Germany vs. Paraguay
  • Time: 4:30 p.m. ET
  • Location: Boston
  • TV: FOX
  • What to watch: Germany has been one of the tournament’s hottest teams after dominating Group E, while Paraguay looks to pull off an upset.
• Netherlands vs. Morocco
  • Time: 9 p.m. ET
  • Location: Monterrey
  • TV: FOX
  • What to watch: The winner advances to meet Canada in the Round of 16 after Canada’s victory over South Africa.

Betting Favorites Entering the Knockout Stage

Although the bracket is now set, sportsbooks like DraftKings and FanDuel continue to favor several European and South American powers to lift the World Cup trophy next month. Argentina and France remain the consensus favorites thanks to their dominant group-stage performances, while England, Brazil and Germany continue to receive strong betting support.

Odds remain fluid throughout the knockout stage, with every victory capable of significantly shortening a team’s championship price. Canada’s dramatic win over South Africa has also improved its outlook, while the United States and Mexico remain popular long-shot selections following strong performances during group play.

As the tournament moves into its win-or-go-home phase, futures markets are expected to become increasingly volatile as the remaining field narrows.