Canada’s opponent for the 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 32 has been confirmed.

South Africa clinched second place in Group A after a hard-fought 1-0 win over South Korea at Estadio Monterrey on Tuesday. The result secured a knockout stage encounter with Canada, who advanced from Group B under the guidance of head coach Jesse Marsch.

Chicago Fire FC’s talented defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi featured for the full 90 minutes for South Africa, helping Bafana Bafana secure their progression to the next round.

The 20-year-old centre-back, who has quickly risen to prominence as one of Major League Soccer’s most promising young defenders this season, will now have a chance to extend his dream run on the global stage.

Canada booked their Round of 32 spot despite suffering a 2-1 defeat to Switzerland earlier on Wednesday, finishing second in Group B. Les Rouges began their campaign with a draw against Bosnia and Herzegovina before delivering a dominant 6-0 victory over Qatar.

Marsch’s men will now turn their attention to South Africa as they prepare for Sunday’s crucial knockout fixture, with a berth in the Round of 16 at stake.

Meanwhile, LAFC star Son Heung-Min and South Korea dropped to third place in Group A. They will now await the final results of the tournament’s best third-place finishers to determine whether they can still qualify for the knockout phase.