Overview
The round of 32 of the FIFA World Cup 2026 begins with the match between co-hosts Canada and South Africa in Los Angeles, taking place at 2:00 AM on June 29.
Coach Jesse Marsch's Canadian team ranked second after Switzerland in Group B after drawing with Bosnia & Herzegovina, winning against Qatar 6-0 and losing to Switzerland in the last group stage match. Bafana Bafana (nickname of the South African team) ranked second in Group A, after losing to Mexico in the opening match, then drawing with the Czech Republic, winning against South Korea and completing a spectacular comeback.
The two countries have only met once before in international football – a friendly match in South Africa in 2007, in which South Africa won 2-0 – making this their first official meeting and also the first time they have faced each other at the FIFA World Cup. Both countries are participating in a knockout match at the World Cup for the first time, which makes this match even more important in the football history of both countries.
The winning team will advance to the round of 16 to face the Netherlands or Morocco in Houston (USA).
Predicted lineups of the two teams:
South Africa: Williams, Modiba, Mbokazi, Mudau, Okon; Mbatha, Sithole; Appollis, Moremi, Mofokeng, Maseko.
Crepeau, Johnston, De Fougerolles, Cornelius, Laryea; Choiniere, Saliba, Ali Ahmed, Buchanan, David, Larin.
Stadium
Los Angeles Stadium (also known as the SoFi Stadium) is the latest venue chosen to host the 2026 World Cup, inaugurated in September 2020. This stadium is located just 30 minutes drive from the famous Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, which hosted the 1994 World Cup final. The stadium has a capacity of over 70,000 seats and can be expanded to 100,000 seats for major events. The stadium's construction cost is estimated at over $5 billion.
Both Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers played their NFL matches here, where the LVI Super Bowl also took place, which Rams defeated Cincinnati Bengals with a score of 23-20 in 2022.
Los Angeles Stadium has organized many unique and iconic infinity screen concerts, with the participation of Taylor Swift, BTS and Ed Sheeran among the artists who have performed here.
