Not even Toronto’s viral oracle fish could have predicted this full twist: Canada’s men’s national team just lost its latest FIFA World Cup match, but thankfully, fans don’t have to put away their red-and-white flags just yet.
Despite falling 2-1 to Switzerland in its final Group B match at Vancouver’s BC Place on Wednesday, Team Canada has officially advanced to the knockout stage of the tournament, marking the first time ever that the Canadian men’s team has reached the knockout round at a World Cup.
Canada’s group stage run has already delivered multiple historic firsts. The team opened with a 1-1 draw against Bosnia and Herzegovina, earning its first-ever point at a men’s World Cup. It then followed that up with a massive 6-0 win over Qatar, Canada’s first-ever victory in the competition.
Now, the focus shifts to the next challenge. Canada will face South Africa in the Round of 32 on Sunday, June 28, 2026, at 3 p.m. (South Africa booked its spot in the matchup after a 1-0 win over South Korea).
This is the single-elimination part of the tournament, so every match must have a winner. If the game is tied after 90 minutes, it goes to extra time and, if needed, penalties. If Canada beats South Africa, the team moves on to the Round of 16.
The match will be played at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, but Canadian World Cup stans can watch on TSN, RDS and CTV!
Of course, there are tons of spots across Toronto where you can watch a World Cup match without paying a cover charge or table fee, as well as World Cup fan experiences where you’ll find fans from every part of the globe.