South Africa vs Canada Opens 2026 World Cup Knockout Stage Amid Brazilian Série B Action
The 2026 FIFA World Cup knockout stage opens with South Africa vs Canada on June 28 alongside significant matches in the Brazilian Série B.
- • South Africa vs Canada opens World Cup round of 64 on June 28 at SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles, at 16:00 Brasília time.
- • Match follows single-elimination format with extra time and penalties if tied, streamed live on Band.com.br.
- • South Africa's probable lineup includes players Williams, Mudau, and Makgopa; Canada features Crepeau, Johnston, and Larin.
- • Brazilian Série B hosts five matches the same day, airing on ESPN, Disney+, and Premiere, including Athletic vs Avaí and Fortaleza vs Sport.
Key details
The 2026 FIFA World Cup knockout stage begins its round of 64 on June 28 with South Africa facing Canada at 16:00 Brasília time. The match takes place at the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles and is broadcast live on Band.com.br. This round introduces a single-elimination format, where tied games proceed to extra time and, if necessary, penalties.
South Africa qualified for this stage by finishing second in Group A, and Canada advanced after placing behind Switzerland in Group B. South Africa's probable lineup includes goalkeeper Williams and key players such as Mudau, Okon, Mbokazi, Modiba, and striker Makgopa under coach Hugo Broos. Canada is expected to field goalkeeper Crepeau, defenders Johnston and Fougerolles, midfielder Laryea, and forwards Larin and David, led by coach Jesse Marsch.
Meanwhile, Brazilian Série B unfolds alongside the World Cup match with five key games. At 16:00, three matches kick off simultaneously: Athletic vs Avaí, Atlético-GO vs Ponte Preta, and Juventude vs Ceará. The evening features Fortaleza vs Sport and Náutico vs Goiás at 18:30. These fixtures will impact league standings and are available to viewers across ESPN, Disney+, and Premiere channels.
With both international and national leagues in focus, football fans in Brazil have a full slate of exciting action to follow, spanning global and domestic competitions.
This article was translated and synthesized from Brazilian sources, providing English-speaking readers with local perspectives.
Source articles (3)
Source comparison
Match stage
Sources report different stages for the match between South Africa and Canada
band.com.br
"the match marks the beginning of the round of 64, a new feature in this World Cup format"
band.com.br
"the Copa do Mundo will kick off its round of 16 with a match between South Africa and Canada"
veja.abril.com.br
"the match is set to kick off, marking the start of the second round of the World Cup"
Why this matters: One source refers to the match as the 'round of 64', while the others correctly identify it as the 'round of 16'. This is a significant discrepancy as it affects the understanding of the tournament structure.