Major League Soccer

·29 June 2026

By Ben Steiner

Just ten days after suffering a broken leg during Canada’s emphatic victory over Qatar in front of an electrifying Vancouver crowd, Ismaël Koné was seen celebrating once again—this time from the sidelines in Los Angeles—after the team’s dramatic 1–0 victory over South Africa in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 32.

The CF Montréal midfielder, who had undergone surgery in Vancouver and has been ruled out for the remainder of the tournament, joined his teammates in jubilant scenes, dancing with sunglasses on after one of the most significant results in Canadian sporting history — their first-ever knockout stage win at a men’s World Cup.

“The atmosphere in the dressing room right now is incredible. Obviously, there’s excitement that we’re still in the tournament and relief that we managed to see it through,” said defender Alistair Johnston after the match.

“It was a tough game, and we knew it would be... but we’ve just won a World Cup knockout match. We’re still dancing, and I couldn’t be happier.”

The celebrations were sparked by LAFC’s Stephen Eustáquio, who unleashed a stunning half-volley from distance, striking the ball perfectly with his right foot to beat Ronwen Williams in the second minute of stoppage time.

The goal sent waves of relief across the stadium. Thousands of Canadian fans who had travelled to Los Angeles exhaled in unison, as did millions more watching from homes and public gatherings across the country—from Eustáquio’s hometown of Leamington, Ontario, to Jacob Shaffelburg’s Port Williams, Nova Scotia, and beyond.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who had attended Canada’s two group stage matches in Vancouver, reportedly fell to his knees on the Ottawa airport runway while watching the match on his phone. His plane landed in the 85th minute, and he witnessed the decisive goal moments after stepping off.

This victory marked a defining moment for Canadian football. Les Rouges will now face either the Netherlands or Morocco in Houston on 4 July in the Round of 16 — an extraordinary achievement for a team that was ranked 122nd in the world just twelve years ago.

“This national team has come such a long way. When I first joined, and even before that, we were still fighting to earn respect from other countries,” said Toronto FC left-back Richie Laryea, who made his national team debut in 2019.

“To see how far we’ve come, to win a game like this at a World Cup, and to move on — it’s special. It’s a moment Canadians will never forget.”

When Canada began their World Cup journey with a training camp in Charlotte, North Carolina, earlier this year, head coach Jesse Marsch laid out his vision: to create moments that would last forever, no matter how the campaign unfolded.

From Eustáquio’s last-gasp winner to Jonathan David’s hat-trick against Qatar and the team’s unity around Koné’s injury, the squad has captured the nation’s heart in a way rarely seen outside of hockey.

“The biggest thing for me is that, in 20 years, people won’t remember how each player performed individually,” Johnston added. “All that matters is that we moved forward, and that’s what today was about. I’m immensely proud of the resilience the boys showed.”

After every game, Marsch gathers his players on the pitch. On Sunday, emotions ran high as they reflected on how far they’ve come — with the sense that this achievement will echo well beyond this summer’s tournament.

“Think about the last two years together — how we’ve talked about sticking to our plan, staying true to who we are, playing with aggression, showing our quality, and demonstrating our character,” Marsch told his team passionately.

“You are Canadian heroes for the future generations who will play this sport. Football has a bright future in this country because of you. You should be so proud of yourselves and of this performance.”

The emotional toll of the World Cup often goes unnoticed. For players, it’s a month-long journey filled with pressure, separation from loved ones, and the weight of lifelong dreams.

For this Canadian squad, such dreams were rare until recently, given the nation’s limited footballing history. Eustáquio, now a national hero, once represented Portugal at the youth level before choosing Canada through a lengthy dual-national process led by former head coach John Herdman.

In the years 2023 and 2024, Eustáquio endured tremendous personal loss, losing both parents within months. Yet, 2024 also brought joy—he and his fiancée Constança welcomed a daughter. Like many members of the CanMNT, he is a father balancing family and duty, with limited chances to reunite during the tournament.

“Everything I do is for my family — for my parents, my partner, my daughter, my brother, my friends back home, and for all of Canada,” said an emotional Eustáquio, tears streaming down his face.

“Now we’re heading to face Morocco or the Netherlands. On our day, anything is possible... if we keep believing and working hard, things can go our way.”

For Canada, this was a breakthrough moment — another step in building a sporting identity that extends well beyond ice and snow.

Now, the biggest challenge lies ahead. Canada know they are heavy underdogs against either the Oranje or the Atlas Lions, but they are embracing the opportunity. At this stage, there is nothing to lose — and the celebrations are sure to continue long after Koné’s dance moves in Los Angeles.

“One of our goals, apart from inspiring the nation, was to earn the chance to play one of the world’s giants,” Marsch said.

“We’ve reached that stage of the tournament, and I see it as a free hit. We’re going to go for it and give everything we have to see if we can pull off another win.”