World Cup
2026-06-28 - South Africa vs Canada
A Sports Betting Pick by Niko
Football; FIFA World Cup 2026: Round of 32
SoFi Stadium – Los Angeles, USA
Sunday, 28th June 2026 - kickoff 15:00 EST
South Africa
South Africa are one of the stories of the tournament. After opening with a defeat to Mexico, Hugo Broos' side recovered with a draw against Czechia before stunning South Korea 1-0 to reach the knockout stage for the first time in their history. Thapelo Maseko's winner and another outstanding display from captain Ronwen Williams showed a team that continues to outperform expectations.
Bafana Bafana don't score many, but they defend with discipline and stay in games. One setback is the absence of experienced midfielder Themba Zwane, whose suspension appeal was rejected, leaving Broos without one of his most influential players for this tie.
Canada
Canada also arrive with history on their side after reaching the World Cup knockout stage for the first time. Jesse Marsch's team impressed during the group phase, thrashing Qatar 6-0 before narrowly losing 2-1 to Switzerland in a match that cost them top spot in Group B. Despite that setback, Canada showed enough attacking quality to suggest they can trouble any defence left in the tournament.
The biggest concern is injuries. Midfielder Ismaël Koné is out for the rest of the World Cup after suffering a broken leg against Qatar, while Canada have had to manage several fitness issues throughout the tournament.
Even so, Jonathan David remains one of the most dangerous forwards in the competition, and Alphonso Davies is expected to play a bigger role after returning to action.
The Betting Verdict
This looks like a big contrast in styles. South Africa will stay compact and look to break quickly, while Canada should see more of the ball and create better chances.
The value is with Canada. They've shown more going forward throughout the tournament, and South Africa's defence will eventually come under pressure. I expect a close game, but Canada's attacking quality could make the difference.
My best bet would be Canada to win, likely without many goals in this game.
The Pick :
South Africa 0-1 Canada
BEST BETTING TIP :
Take Canada to win at odds of 1.73 with BetFred
