Bafana Bafana have already written a new chapter in their history after advancing to the knockout stages of the FIFA World Cup for the first time in South Africa’s history, and there will be great excitement and expectations when they kick off the Round of 32 stage against Canada.
Tournament co-hosts Canada will be the clear favourites to progress, but Bafana Bafana’s memorable recent victory against South Korea has undoubtedly taken the team’s confidence to a whole new level.
Alongside South Africa, there is a strong African presence making history in the first-ever 48-team knockout stage, with eight other nations from the continent having qualified.
Morocco, Senegal, Egypt, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, DR Congo, Algeria and Cabo Verde will all be in action over the next few days, but first up, all eyes will be on Bafana Bafana on Sunday night.
FIFA World Cup 2026: Round of 32 Schedule as Bafana Bafana kick off against Canada
| Date | Match | Venue | Kick off (SA Time) |
| Sun, 28 June | South Africa vs Canada | Los Angeles Stadium | 21:00 |
| Mon, 29 June | Brazil vs Japan | Houston Stadium | 19:00 |
| Germany vs Paraguay | Boston Stadium | 22:30 | |
| Tue, 30 June | Netherlands vs Morocco | Estadio Monterrey | 03:00 |
| Côte d’Ivoire vs Norway | Dallas Stadium | 19:00 | |
| France vs Sweden | New York New Jersey Stadium | 23:00 | |
| Wed, 1 July | Mexico vs Ecuador | Mexico City Stadium | 03:00 |
| England vs DR Congo | Atlanta Stadium | 18:00 | |
| Belgium vs Senegal | Seattle Stadium | 22:00 | |
| Thu, 2 July | USA vs Bosnia & Herzegovina | San Francisco Bay Area Stadium | 02:00 |
| Spain vs Austria | Los Angeles Stadium | 21:00 | |
| Fri, 3 July | Portugal vs Croatia | Toronto Stadium | 01:00 |
| Switzerland vs Algeria | Vancouver Stadium | 05:00 | |
| Australia vs Egypt | Dallas Stadium | 20:00 | |
| Sat, 4 July | Argentina vs Cabo Verde | Miami Stadium | 00:00 |
| Colombia vs Ghana | Kansas City Stadium | 03:30 |
Some interesting stats from the group stage
- Egypt finally ended their quest for a first World Cup win after 92 years. The Pharaohs debuted in 1934 and, in what was their fourth edition and ninth game, beat New Zealand from behind thanks to goals from Zico, Mohamed Salah and Trezeguet. Egypt outranked Norway, who first appeared in 1938 and first won 56 years later. Korea Republic took 48 years to register a World Cup victory, while Peru, Belgium, the Netherlands and Canada waited 40 years.
- Argentina, France and Mexico were the only teams to advance with a full nine points. Group H, which Spain won with seven points, was only the fourth section in World Cup history in which only one team won a game, following Group A in 1982, Group F in 1990 and Group B in 1998.
- Argentina’s Lionel Messi is leading the race for the adidas Golden Boot with six goals. France duo Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele, Brazil’s Vinicius Jr and Erling Haaland of Norway are on four apiece. Mbappe and Messi, each with six, have the most goal involvements, with Dembele, Vinicius and Germany’s Deniz Undav one behind.