South Africa vs Canada kicks off the World Cup Round of 32 — the opening fixture of the knockout stage. The match takes place at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on Sunday 28 June, and neither team has ever won a World Cup knockout match before. One of them is about to.
South Africa vs Canada: Date, Kick-Off Time and Venue
South Africa vs Canada kicks off at 8pm BST on Sunday 28 June, at SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, Los Angeles. That’s a civilised evening slot for UK viewers — no alarms required — which makes it one of the more watchable fixtures of the entire round.
For South African viewers that’s 9pm local time (SAST), and for Canadian fans tuning in from home, it’s 3pm Eastern, noon Pacific.
How to Watch South Africa vs Canada in the UK
South Africa vs Canada is being shown on ITV1, with Scottish viewers also able to watch on STV. Both are streaming free through ITVX and STV Player, so all you need is a TV licence and an account on either app.
If you’d rather not be tied to one screen for the full ninety minutes (plus extra time and penalties, if it comes to that), ZumTV lets you carry the match from the living room TV to a tablet in the kitchen or a phone upstairs without losing the feed or signing in again on every device. Try ZumTV free and watch the first knockout match of the tournament wherever you actually are when kick-off hits.
South Africa vs Canada: Team News
Both sides reach this point having played their way through, rather than into, this tie.
South Africa finished second in Group A after a difficult start. Hugo Broos’ side lost their opener 2-0 to Mexico, drew 1-1 with Czechia, then beat South Korea 1-0 to confirm their spot — their first ever appearance in a World Cup knockout round after three previous group-stage exits, including as hosts in 2010.
Canada finished second in Group B. A 1-1 draw with Bosnia and Herzegovina and a 6-0 win over Qatar put them in a strong position, but a 2-1 defeat to Switzerland on the final matchday cost them top spot, and with it, the chance to host this tie at home in Vancouver. Instead they travel south to Los Angeles.
South Africa Team News
Midfielder Teboho Mokoena returns after serving a one-match ban, likely slotting back into the engine room. Themba Zwane remains suspended following his red card in the opening match against Mexico, which leaves a creative gap in the final third. Evidence Makgopa is expected to lead the line.
Canada Team News
Ismael Kone is out for the tournament with a fractured tibia. Captain Alphonso Davies, working back from a hamstring injury, has missed the entire group stage. Reports on his availability conflict — some previews list him as a likely substitute option, others have him out of the predicted XI entirely. Worth checking team news again closer to kick-off rather than assuming either way. Jonathan David and Cyle Larin continue to lead the attack, with David among Canada’s most reliable finishers this tournament.
South Africa vs Canada: Predicted Lineups
South Africa (4-4-2): Williams; Mudau, Mbokazi, Okon, Modiba; Mbatha, Mokoena; Maseko, Mofokeng, Appollis; Makgopa
Canada (4-4-2): Crepeau; Johnston, De Fougerolles, Cornelius, Laryea; Buchanan, Eustaquio, Saliba, Ahmed; David, Larin
Treat both as best guesses rather than confirmed teams. Official lineups land around an hour before kick-off, and South Africa boss Hugo Broos hadn’t named a final XI as of our last update.
What’s at Stake in the South Africa vs Canada World Cup Match
Win this, and the victor moves into the Round of 16 to face the winner of the Netherlands vs Uruguay tie on 4 July in Houston. For both nations, simply being here already rewrites their World Cup history. Whoever wins on Sunday adds a first-ever knockout victory to that.
Canada go in as favourites with the bookmakers, largely on the strength of David and Larin in attack. But South Africa have shown they’re capable of grinding out results when they need to, and a few previews are backing the underdogs to make this closer than the odds suggest — even floating a penalty shootout scenario. In a one-off knockout match between two teams with zero experience of this stage, form lines only tell you so much.
South Africa vs Canada: Key Takeaways
Here is a quick summary of everything you need to know about the South Africa vs Canada World Cup match before kick-off on Sunday 28 June.
Kick-off time: The South Africa Canada World Cup kick off time is 8pm BST, which is 3pm ET for Canadian fans and 9pm SAST for South African viewers.
UK TV channel: The South Africa Canada UK channel is ITV1 (STV in Scotland), both available free via ITVX and STV Player. This is great news for UK viewers who can watch one of the most compelling Round of 32 fixtures without any subscription.
Venue: SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, Los Angeles – one of the most impressive sporting venues in North America, with a capacity of over 70,000.
Historical significance: This is the first World Cup knockout round match for both South Africa and Canada. The team that wins will not only progress in the tournament but will also write their name into footballing history.
What to watch: Canada’s pace on the wings through Tajon Buchanan could trouble South Africa’s defensive line, while South Africa’s physical midfield battle – led by the returning Mokoena – may prove decisive in controlling possession and tempo. Keep an eye on Jonathan David for Canada and Evidence Makgopa for South Africa, both of whom can create or score crucial goals in a tight knockout contest.
South Africa vs Canada FAQ
What time does South Africa vs Canada kick off?
8pm BST on Sunday 28 June. That’s 3pm Eastern Time in Canada and 9pm SAST in South Africa.
What channel is South Africa vs Canada on in the UK?
ITV1, with STV also showing the match in Scotland. Both stream free via ITVX and STV Player. The South Africa Canada UK channel coverage is free-to-air, meaning no subscription is needed.
Where is South Africa vs Canada being played?
SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Los Angeles.
Has South Africa or Canada ever won a World Cup knockout match before?
No. This is the first World Cup Round of 32 first match in either nation’s history, making it a genuine first regardless of the result.
What is the South Africa Canada World Cup kick off time?
The South Africa Canada World Cup kick off time is 8pm BST on Sunday 28 June 2026. That’s 3pm ET / noon PT for Canadian viewers, and 9pm SAST for South African fans.
What happens if South Africa vs Canada is level after 90 minutes?
The match goes to 30 minutes of extra time. If it’s still level, the tie is settled by a penalty shootout.