Often overlooked, Canada makes history with round of 32 win over South Africa

INGLEWOOD, CA — Canada had already made history at this World Cup before a ball was even kicked against South Africa on Sunday, June 28.

Having entered the tournament with six defeats in six matches across two previous World Cups, Canada got its first point at the competition in its opener on home soil against Bosnia and Herzegovina.

More history followed: the country's first World Cup win, a 6-0 triumph over Qatar, which clinched its first appearance in a World Cup knockout stage.

But Canada took things to an even higher level on Sunday, as it defeated South Africa 1-0 in the round of 32, clinching its first World Cup knockout win at the first time of asking.

Stephen Eustáquio scored a dramatic winner in second-half stoppage time, putting the Canadians into dreamland.

For a country that isn't often though of as soccer-obsessed, what could a win like this do?

"We want to turn this country into a footballing country," defender Richie Laryea said after the game. "This needs to now start to become the bar whenever we get into tournaments like the World Cup, to be in and around this level."

Canadian soccer history is not filled with triumphant moments — particularly on the men's side. The team's last major trophy was the 2000 Gold Cup. When it reached the World Cup in 2022 it was just the second time it had ever done so, and first since 1986.

But thanks to the current generation of players, including stars like Alphonso Davies and Jonathan David, the perception around Canadian men's soccer is starting to shift.

"This national team's come a very long way from even when I started," Laryea said. "It was in a place where guys were coming in and trying to fight to get respect from other nations. So now to see where we're at now, and to win a game like this in a World Cup, and to be moving on, it's special."

Next up for Canada is a chance to truly show how far it has come.

While beating Qatar and South Africa has already made this a successful World Cup for one of the three host countries, beating a team like Morocco or the Netherlands in the round of 16 would make an entirely different statement.

Head coach Jesse Marsch seemed to be aware that it was already mission accomplished for his team, calling its round of 16 game a "free hit" after the win over South Africa.

"You get a chance at one of the two best teams in the world," defender Alistair Johnston said. "That's unbelievable. It's a pinch-me moment, honestly."

Although the Canadians were euphoric after Sunday's win, they were also determined to give it a go in the round of 16 against a team that will be a major step up in competition.

"We know that in six days we're going to have a very tough team," Eustáquio said. "But at the same time, I think today we have to enjoy the fact that we made everybody back home proud."