Canada reaches World Cup 2026 round of 16 for first time

Canada became the first North‑American co‑host to advance to the knockout stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The Canadians edged South Africa 1‑0 in a round‑of‑32 match in Los Angeles, with midfielder Steven Ostakio scoring in the 90+2 minute. The victory sent Canada to the round of 16 for the first time in its history, where it will meet the winner of the Netherlands‑Morocco game.

Argentina completed the group stage with a perfect record, beating Jordan 3‑1 and finishing with nine points. Lionel Messi added his 19th World Cup goal, becoming the first player to score in seven consecutive tournaments. The Argentine side now awaits a round‑of‑32 clash against the winner of the Caribbean qualifier.

Morocco, fresh from a strong group performance, will face the Netherlands in the round of 32. Both sides have expressed confidence, highlighting Morocco’s high morale and the Netherlands’ tactical depth. Analysts note that a computer‑simulation model places France as the tournament favourite (18.7 % chance), with Argentina second (16.3 %) and Spain third (13.5 %).

The round of 32 schedule also includes matches such as Egypt versus Australia and South Africa versus Canada, marking the start of the knockout phase.