Canadian soccer followers will rally behind their crew as we speak because the nation heads into its first FIFA World Cup knockout stage match, taking up South Africa in a extremely anticipated showdown.
Canada will face the South Africans in Los Angeles after the latter crew upset South Korea 1-0 in Mexico Metropolis on Wednesday.
Canada superior to the knockout stage for the primary time regardless of a 2-1 loss in Vancouver to Switzerland, which topped the group.
To date within the match, Canadian followers have proven vibrant assist for the crew, packing each BC Place and Toronto Stadium, turning streets into rivers of cheering, flag-waving supporters and spending hours outdoors lodges awaiting the gamers’ arrivals and sendoffs.
Watch events are anticipated to happen throughout the nation as followers buzz with pleasure for the match.
FIFA Fan Festivals in Toronto and Vancouver, in addition to group areas in cities from coast to coast, are scheduled to broadcast the sport.
The fan expertise spotlight thus far has been Canada’s 6-0 rout of Qatar at BC Place on June 18, which adopted the nation’s first World Cup level with a draw towards Bosnia-Herzegovina within the June 12 opener in Toronto.
“You might be watching Canadian historical past truly being moved in soccer, so it’s actually thrilling,” fan Nabi Zadeh stated after the sport towards Switzerland.
“Canada is making historical past. Each sport, each second, it’s new.”
Canada head coach Jesse Marsch stated Thursday that he’s anticipating South Africa to be a powerful opponent.
“Bodily in transition and across the aim, being very decisive and athletic and highly effective. So these are issues that we often are geared up with, and so that can problem our capability to handle that,” Marsch stated.
The round-of-32 matchup kicks off at 3 p.m. japanese time at Los Angeles Stadium.
This report by The Canadian Press was first printed June 28, 2026.
The Canadian Press
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