The 2026 FIFA World Cup round of 32 officially commenced today with a contest between Canada and South Africa. This match marked the beginning of the knockout stage, identifying the first team to secure a position in the round of 16.
For the majority of the match, the score remained deadlocked at 0-0. However, the momentum shifted in stoppage time when Canada successfully netted a goal. This decisive play allowed them to edge past South Africa and celebrate their first-ever qualification for the World Cup round of 16 in the nation’s history.
With this initial game concluded, the tournament bracket continues to take shape as more matches are played throughout the week. Additional nations will join Canada in the next stage as the competition progresses.
The round of 16 is scheduled to begin on Saturday, July 4, with a slate of two matches. The first fixture will pair the victor of the Germany versus Paraguay game against the winner of the clash between France and Sweden. Later that day, Canada will face the winner of the matchup featuring the Netherlands and Morocco.
