Canada are into the World Cup last 16 because Stephen Eustáquio found the finish a tight knockout match had been missing.
Eustáquio scored in the second minute of stoppage time on Sunday, driving a right-footed shot from outside the box into the bottom-left corner to give Canada a 1-0 win over South Africa at SoFi Stadium. The goal sent Jesse Marsch’s side through from the Round of 32 and gave Canada its first World Cup knockout victory.
South Africa had more of the ball, finishing with 58.4 percent possession, but Canada created the better chances. Ronwen Williams made five saves, including first-half stops on Derek Cornelius, Tani Oluwaseyi and Tajon Buchanan, while Canada put seven of its 12 shots on target.
Canada’s edge came from pressure around the box and better set-piece delivery. Eustáquio was involved in several of those moments before he scored, sending in crosses for Cornelius and Oluwaseyi and taking the shot that finally broke South Africa’s resistance.
South Africa had control, Canada had the chances
South Africa’s best early look came in the sixth minute, when Teboho Mokoena forced Maxime Crépeau into a save from outside the box. Ime Okon headed wide from a corner before halftime, and Oswin Appollis twice missed from distance in the second half, but South Africa finished with only one shot on target.
Marsch used his bench to keep Canada moving. Niko Sigur and Luc de Fougerolles came on before the hour, Promise David and Jacob Shaffelburg followed in the 70th minute, and Alphonso Davies entered five minutes later. Davies helped create a 78th-minute chance for Jonathan David, whose angled shot forced another Williams save.
The breakthrough came just as extra time started to feel unavoidable. Eustáquio’s strike changed the match, then Canada saw out the final minutes with Crépeau claiming a late free kick and South Africa unable to build one last clear chance.
The result ends South Africa’s run after its breakthrough win over South Korea pushed Bafana Bafana into the knockouts. For Canada, it extends a tournament that has already moved beyond the basics of following Canada at the 2026 World Cup and into new territory.
