The Canadian men’s team continues to make history at the FIFA World Cup. 

Canada left it very late against South Africa on Sunday in its round of 32 contest before pulling out a dramatic win, its first ever in a World Cup knockout game. With extra time looming, a stubborn South African defence was finally breached in injury time when Stephen Eustáquio scored deep into injury time to lift Canada to a 1-0 victory at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.   

Canada advances to the round of 16 on July 4 in Houston, where it will play the winner of Monday’s match between the Netherlands and Morocco.  

Defender Alistair Johnson, who helped Canada earn its second clean sheet at this World Cup, waxed poetic when asked in the post-game mixed zone by reporters to put this historic result into perspective. 

“It’s one of those moments that you’ll never forget where you were. I think for Canadian sports history, it’s going to be a moment where you’re going to kind of know where you were when that moment happened, so that’s something that is not lost on us,” Alistair Johnston said. 

“We know that this is not only writing history in Canadian soccer, but in Canadian sport, and that’s something that’s really magical.” 

Here are three takeaways from Sunday’s match.    

Canada’s grit and determination pay off in the end 

Canada started the game on the front foot as it tried to put South Africa under pressure with its ultra-aggressive pressing style. The Africans ably dealt with the fervent Canadian press and managed to play through the pressure, bypassing Canada’s midfield to get into dangerous scoring positions. South Africa’s Relebohile Mofokeng got in behind and fired a shot on net that forced a save from goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau in the opening minutes.   

The Canadians eventually eased up by becoming more selective in their pressing and created the better scoring chances. Still, there was no breakthrough for Canada as it was thwarted by some last-ditch defending by South Africa and let down by some poor finishing from its attackers.  

South Africa continued to dominate possession at the start of the second half as Canada stood off and remained selective as to when it pressed. Coach Jesse Marsch finally made changes in the 59th minute when he brought on midfielder Niko Sigur and centre back de Luc Fougerolles for Nathan Saliba and Moïse Bombito. 

Sigur almost made an instant impact by going on a probing run down the middle before releasing Tani Oluwaseyi with a fabulous through ball. Oluwaseyi took a good touch before seeing his shot from inside the box saved by goalkeeper Ronwen Williams, and defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi made a great defensive clearance before David could get his foot on the ball for a rebound attempt. 

It just didn’t look like it was going to happen for Canada on the day, especially with top scorer Jonathan David looking like his legs were giving out him for the final 15 minutes. South Africa’s bend-but-don’t-break back line held firm, frustrating the Canadians at every turn, and appeared as though they could hold out through an extra 30 minutes in order to test their luck in a penalty shootout. 

But Canada kept at it and finally broke the deadlock when substitute Jacob Shaffelburg’s cross into the box was cleared away by a South African defender, which landed at the feet of Eustáquio. The classy midfielder chested it down before unleashing a low curler from 20 yards out that nestled into the lower left corner of the net.  

Eustáquio’s late winner was just reward for a Canadian team that displayed true grit and determination on the day and always believed that the game was there to be won. 

“I think the performance was really strong and disciplined. We didn’t really give much away, and even when their goalkeeper was slowing things down, we didn’t lose our patience. … We could have made life a little easier on ourselves if we would have made a play earlier when we had some big chances, but obviously the timing of the goal means that the win is incredibly dramatic,” Jesse Marsch said. 

“And I think the effect that it will have in Canada and the inspiring of people will be immense. So, I’m really proud of our team.” 

A fabulous finish by Stephen Eustáquio on the game winner 

Eustáquio is not your classic goal-scoring midfielder. He had just four goals in 59 appearances for Canada coming into Sunday’s match and hadn’t scored for his country since 2023. 

But that didn’t stop the classy midfielder from scoring one of the most important goals in Canadian soccer history. 

Needing to inject some much-needed life into his team’s attack, Jesse Marsch made a series of substitutions in the second half, including bringing on speedy winger Jacob Shaffelburg, whose probing play down the right flank caused problems for South Africa’s back line. 

It was Shaffelburg’s dangerous cross into the box in injury time that was initially cleared away by a South African defender, which landed at the feet of Stephen Eustáquio. Rather than being overcome by the momentum, the veteran midfielder showed great poise in chesting it down before unleashing a low curler from 20 yards out that nestled into the lower left corner of the net.  

Eustáquio’s fabulous finish was worthy of winning such an important World Cup match and would have been the envy of forwards Jonathan David and Clye Larin, the team’s two all-time leading scorers who have combined for five goals at this World Cup. 

The composed finish by Eustáquio was all the more impressive as it came after Derek Cornelius, Liam Millar, Moïse Bombito and Tajon Buchanan all had good looks on goal in the first half but squandered their scoring chances. 

“I feel very happy that I scored the goal that was able to help the team, but that shot, I felt that everybody in the team shot that ball with me. We are very good. We believed a lot in this game. We knew that if we were our best, we could win, and we made history at the same time,” Eustáquio told reporters after the match. 

Game opens up for Canada after Alphonso Davies’ introduction 

The big question about Canada going into this match was whether or not captain Alphonso Davies would see any action. 

Davies was ruled out for Canada’s opening contest at this World Cup as he was still recovering from a long-term hamstring injury, and he was an unused substitute in his team’s next two games. 

The speedy left fullback hadn’t played for Canada since March 2025, when he tore an ACL in the Concacaf Nations League finals. He missed a fair chunk of the recent Bundesliga season with Bayern Munich and hasn’t laced up since suffering an injury setback in the second leg of the UEFA Champions League semifinals verus Paris Saint-Germain on May 6.   

So, there was some debate as to what kind of influence he could exert for Canada in this match after such a lengthy injury layoff if Jesse Marsch decided to turn to him at some point. 

In the 75th minute, with the game still hanging in the balance, Marsch finally brought Davies off the bench. And while the Bayern Munich star didn’t make it onto the scoresheet, he had a hugely positive effect for Canada during his brief cameo. 

Within seconds of stepping onto the pitch, Davies nearly collected an assist with one of his first touches when he teed up fellow substitute Promise David, who dragged his shot from 20 yards out just wide of the post. Moments later, Davies found Jonathan David inside the box with a clever pass as the Juventus forward blasted an angled shot that was parried away by South Africa’s goalkeeper. 

While most of Canada’s attacking forays up to that point came through the middle and down the right wing, it suddenly was making inroads along the left flank courtesy of Davies. As a result, South Africa turned a lot of its attention on trying to stop Davies, thus opening up spaces and opportunities for his Canadian teammates. 

“I think when Alphonso comes in, it’s a big boost for the team. Obviously, he’s one of the best left backs in the world; the best player we have on our team,” Stephen Eustáquio said.