The first Round of 32 match in World Cup history pitted South Africa against the Canadian Men’s National Team (CanMNT) on Sunday afternoon at the world’s most expensive sports venue, SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. Many Canadian fans travelled down to continue the remarkable wave of support that began at BMO Field, at BC Place, and in the marches through the streets of Toronto and Vancouver. Greatly outnumbering the South African supporters, the fans in red saw their team dominate most of the 90 scoreless minutes that preceded Stephen Eustáquio’s 1–0 match-winning goal in stoppage time.

Here are three takeaways.

1. Eustáquio’s Well-Earned Acclaim

In the decisive moment, Eustáquio took a headed clearance off his chest at the top of South Africa’s box, let the ball bounce once, and laced his shot into the side netting.

Eustáquio seldom scores goals. The 29-year-old Portuguese-Canadian is a master of the oft-overlooked details of the game: controlling the tempo of play, creating space for teammates, reducing space for opponents, and doing the dirty work defensively. He is also a leader who helps the CanMNT keep their composure and wears the captain’s armband in Alphonso Davies’s absence.

When muscle tightness prevented Eustáquio from starting Canada’s previous match, against Switzerland, his team did not look right. His absence, as it has many times before, revealed how important he is. He came on immediately after Canada fell behind 2–0 and was vital in tilting the field as the Canadians scored their first goal and came agonizingly close to a 2–2 equalizer.

At the 2022 World Cup, Eustáquio’s exit for injury at halftime in the match against Croatia was a critical downward turn in Canada’s tournament. He was needed then and is needed now, as the CanMNT venture deeper into uncharted territory. His dramatic goal against South Africa ensures he will be properly celebrated.

2. Phonzy Boosts Belief

Jogging onto the pitch at SoFi Stadium in the 75th minute, Alphonso Davies made his first substitute appearance of the 2026 World Cup and took the captain’s armband from Eustáquio. Poignantly, SoFi was where Davies injured his ACL in a Nations League third-place match on March 23, 2025, and he had not played for Canada in the 462 days that had passed since then.

Whereas Eustáquio seems to heighten the CanMNT’s composure, Davies seems to raise their self-belief. The Canadians appeared to gain swagger as Davies charged with the ball down the left flank and the stadium filled with expectant cheers as it would for Vinícius Júnior or Kylian Mbappé. After all, Davies has lifted the Champions League trophy and plenty of other silverware with Bayern Munich.

Coach Jesse Marsch has observed this Davies effect closely. When the Bayern player ended a long absence from the CanMNT by joining them in Vancouver for their opening match of the 2025 Gold Cup, the team shellacked Honduras 6–0 at BC Place. Still sidelined, Davies did not play, but Marsch has nevertheless credited Davies’s presence with inspiring that performance.

When the Canadians square off against Moroccan superstars such as Achraf Hakimi or Dutch superstars such as Cody Gakpo in their Round of 16 clash on Saturday, they will be standing shoulder to shoulder with a Canadian superstar. Davies’s return to play is a psychological boost.

3. Playing with House Money

Either Morocco or the Netherlands will be heavily favoured against Canada on Saturday. In addition to having their Phonzy-led swagger, the CanMNT can play freely as underdogs. If they lose, they will have met expectations. If they win, they will gain supporters around the world heading into the quarterfinals.

Marsch’s side has already hit key Men’s World Cup milestones. They got the nation’s first-ever point in the draw with Bosnia and Herzegovina, the first-ever win in the 6–0 triumph over Qatar, the first-ever advancement to the knockout stage, and the first-ever knockout-stage win against South Africa. “You’re Canadian heroes,” Marsch told his players after the match in Los Angeles.

Further success for Canada would be gravy. But there is one milestone that has remained out of reach in the ascendant eras of John Herdman and Jesse Marsch: The CanMNT has not upset any of football’s powerhouse nations. During their rise, they have lost to or drawn with Belgium, Croatia, Morocco, the Netherlands, France, Argentina, Uruguay, and Colombia — not to mention the recent disappointment against Switzerland.

Saturday presents an opportunity to slay a giant: Morocco or the Netherlands. Before then, Canada’s opponent will be determined when the Moroccans face the Dutch on Monday night.