Canada vs South Africa: World Cup round of 32 preview, predictions & bet builder tips

Our prediction: Canada 2-0 South Africa

Canada

Our predicted XI (4-4-2): Crepeau / Johnston, De Fougerolles, Cornelius, Davies / Buchanan, Saliba, Choiniere, Ahmed / David, Larin

South Africa

Our predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Williams / Mudau, Okon, Mbokazi, Modiba / Sithole, Mokoena / Maseko, Mokofeng, Appollis / Makgopa

The first match of the knockout stages of the 2026 World Cup sees two nations who have never reached this stage go head-to-head, as co-hosts Canada take on South Africa. The game will be played in Los Angeles, after Jesse Marsch's side failed to take their chance to win Group B, as Switzerland denied them the opportunity to play in Vancouver. That 2-1 defeat followed a 6-0 thumping of Qatar, after Canada drew their opening game 1-1 with Bosnia.

South Africa started the World Cup in the worst possible fashion, being reduced to nine men in the competition's curtain-raiser and eventually losing 2-0 to Mexico. They then earned a late point against Czechia, before stunning South Korea with a 1-0 smash-and-grab to seal second place in Group A. Now that they're here, Bafana Bafana have nothing to lose.

Canada would have preferred to be playing in a red-hot home atmosphere, but they are sure to be backed well by their fans just across the border. South Africa will make things difficult, but it is a bit of a miracle that they've made it this far. They lack the quality that The Canucks possess in the form of Jonathan David, Tajon Buchanan and potentially the returning Alphonso Davies. We're predicting a 2-0 win for Canada in the round of 32 as their dream run continues.

South Africa will look to frustrate Canada as they did to Czechia and South Korea, and hope to catch them on the break, but this is not a team that creates bundles of chances. Each of Bafana Bafana's last five games have gone under 2.5 goals. Although Canada's last two games have gone over 2.5 goals, only one of their previous eight internationals did, so we're picking under 2.5 goals in our Canada vs South Africa bet builder.

The co-hosts' star man in attack is Juventus forward Jonathan David, who leads his country with three World Cup goals after his superb hat-trick against Qatar. David had at least one shot on target in all three of Canada's group games, and we're backing him to continue that streak with another in the last 32.

Yaya Sithole had a disastrous start to the World Cup, giving the ball away in the lead up to Mexico's first goal before being shown a straight red card early in the second half. However, he returned to play a key role in the win over South Korea, snuffing out everything in defensive midfield. In his position, he's always at risk of giving a foul away, and we're tipping Sithole to be booked against Canada.

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All odds and markets are correct as of the date of publication.