Canada defeated South Africa 1-0 in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 on Sunday, with Stephen Eustáquio striking the only goal at 90’+2′ to settle a tense fixture at SoFi Stadium. His late volley finally broke a contest that had seemed destined to drift into extra time.
For long stretches, this was a match defined by patience, structure and small margins. South Africa saw more of the ball, finishing with 58.2 percent possession, but Canada carried the greater threat whenever the play opened up. The Canadians produced 12 shots to South Africa’s six and forced seven efforts on target, compared with just one from their opponents.
The first half ended 0-0, and that scoreline accurately reflected a cautious opening. South Africa tried to control the rhythm through longer spells in possession, while Canada stayed compact without the ball and looked to advance quickly once turnovers arrived. Neither side found a breakthrough before the interval, though Canada appeared the more direct of the two whenever they approached the penalty area.
After the restart, Canada continued to ask more probing questions. South Africa struggled to turn territory into clear chances, winning only one corner all match and rarely testing the Canadian goalkeeper. Canada, by contrast, kept finding routes into dangerous areas, even as the fixture became more fractured. Yellow cards for Nathan Saliba at 54′ and Niko Sigur at 67′ underlined the competitive edge as Canada fought to maintain control without the ball.
Just when extra time looked increasingly likely, the decisive moment arrived in stoppage time. In the 90’+2′ minute, Stephen Eustáquio met the opportunity with a clean volley to give Canada the lead and ultimately the victory. It was a goal of timing and composure, and in a knockout match that offered little room for error, it carried huge weight.
Key performers
Eustáquio will take the headlines for his 90’+2′ winner, but Canada’s performance was also built on sustained attacking pressure. Their seven shots on target told the story of a side that kept South Africa under strain even without dominating possession. South Africa had control of the ball for long periods, yet they were unable to translate that into end product, with only one effort on target across the 90 minutes.
NerdSports Stat: Canada became the first side in this fixture to score after the 90th minute despite having less than 42 percent possession, turning just one late opening into the match-winning moment.
The result sends Canada through to the Round of 16 after a disciplined and increasingly assertive display in Inglewood. South Africa bow out after a competitive performance that kept the fixture level deep into stoppage time, but their lack of cutting edge proved costly. Canada’s next fixture now carries even greater significance, with confidence boosted by a dramatic late winner on the World Cup stage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Stephen Eustáquio (90’+2′).
South Africa 0 – 1 Canada.
This was a FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 fixture, so Canada advance to the Round of 16 while South Africa are eliminated.
Stephen Eustáquio was the standout performer with the winning volley at 90’+2′.
