South Africa’s campaign began with a 2–0 defeat to Mexico. They responded with a 1–1 draw against Czechia before producing a crucial 1–0 win over South Korea in the return fixture to secure progression. That late surge carried them into the knockout stage behind group winners Mexico.
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Canada’s Group B journey was more varied. They opened with a 1–1 draw against Bosnia and Herzegovina, then delivered the standout result of their campaign with a 6–0 win over Qatar. However, they closed the group with a 2–1 defeat to Switzerland, who topped the standings, though Canada still advanced as runners-up.
This will be only the second ever meeting between the two nations. South Africa won the previous encounter 2–0 in a 2007 friendly in Durban.
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Canada also carry a difficult record against African opposition in competitive football, losing 2–0 to Cameroon at the 2001 Confederations Cup and 2–1 to Morocco at the 2022 World Cup.
Now, both sides meet again on the World Cup stage, where past results offer context, but current form and tournament momentum will decide who reaches the Round of 16.
Photo: REUTERS/Daniel Becerril
