World Cup knockout stage begins with South Africa vs Canada as 32 teams chase the title

The group stage of the 2026 World Cup concluded after 72 matches, sending 32 teams through to the knockout round and eliminating 16. The tournament now shifts to sudden-death football, beginning with an historic encounter between South Africa and Canada.

Group stage sets the stage

Spain topped the overall table, while Africa celebrated an unprecedented nine representatives in the last 32. Favourites such as Brazil, Argentina, France, Germany and England all advanced, but the group phase also served up late drama. Algeria and Austria played out a 3-3 draw on the final night that eliminated Iran, with Riyad Mahrez scoring in the 93rd minute and Sasa Kalajdzic heading an equaliser in the 96th to send Austria through at the expense of the Asian side.

South Africa and Canada make history

Both teams are appearing in the knockout stage for the first time. South Africa, hosts in 2010, had failed to get out of their group on home soil, a disappointment that left domestic football dormant for years, according to Cape Town-based journalist Mark Gleeson. The national team missed three Africa Cup of Nations tournaments in that lean spell. Now Bafana Bafana are back, having finished second in Group A with four points after a win over South Korea. Canada also advanced with four points from Group B, beating Qatar 6-0 but losing Alphonso Davies’s teammate Ismael Koné to a broken leg. Coach Jesse Marsch may have Davies available for the match.

Hopefully this is the start of a new era for South Africa, maybe 16 years too late.

The path to the final

The bracket has landed in a way that could produce several early blockbusters. Portugal, led by Cristiano Ronaldo, meet Luka Modric’s Croatia on Friday in Toronto, while the Netherlands face Morocco on Tuesday. Spain, who face Austria on Thursday, would then collide with the winner of Portugal-Croatia in the quarter-finals. France, arguably the tournament favourite, must get past Sweden and then likely Germany, who play Paraguay in the round of 32. Brazil take on Japan and Argentina meet surprise package Cape Verde.

Voices from the touchline

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni summed up the mood after his team’s final group game. Brazil boss Carlo Ancelotti echoed the sentiment.

Now the good stuff begins.

Now the beautiful part comes.

The final is scheduled for 19 July in New Jersey.