Canada make World Cup history with first Last-16 qualification | OneFootball

Canada have reached the knockout stages of a World Cup for the first time in their history after edging past South Africa 1-0.

Stephen Eustáquio scored the decisive goal in first-half stoppage time to secure a landmark victory for the co-hosts.

The result makes Canada only the fourth CONCACAF nation to progress beyond the group stage of a World Cup, following the United States, Mexico and Costa Rica.

Canada's achievement has come under the tournament's expanded format, with the 2026 World Cup featuring 48 teams and introducing a round of 32 before the traditional last 16. Previous editions moved directly from the group stage to the round of 16.

CONCACAF currently consists of 41 member associations, but only 12 nations have ever qualified for a World Cup finals. Alongside Canada, previous participants include Cuba, El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Panama and Curaçao. Six teams from the confederation are competing at the 2026 tournament.

As one of the three host nations, Canada have already booked their place in the last 16 and will face either the Netherlands or Morocco in the next round. Meanwhile, fellow hosts Mexico and the United States are both still aiming to join them in the knockout stages.