Canada Celebrate Historic Qualification as Saudi Arabia Rocked by Early Exit

Canada made the perfect start to the knockout stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup by becoming the first team to book their place in the Round of 16 after a dramatic 1-0 victory over South Africa in Los Angeles.

With the tournament entering the knockout rounds following a group stage that produced the highest scoring average since the 1950s, attention now turns to a series of highly anticipated Round of 32 fixtures. The standout ties include Brazil against Japan later today, Germany versus Paraguay, and the eagerly awaited clash between the Netherlands and Morocco in the early hours of tomorrow morning.

Canada secured qualification thanks to a dramatic stoppage-time winner from captain Stephen Eustáquio, handing his country its first-ever victory in the knockout stages of a FIFA World Cup after group-stage exits in both the 1986 and 2022 editions.

As soon as the final whistle sounded, Canada's players and coaching staff rushed onto the pitch to celebrate the historic achievement, while the travelling supporters erupted with joy as their team booked a place among the world's last 16.

Canada will now face the winner of the upcoming Round of 32 clash between Morocco and the Netherlands, which will be played in Monterrey, Mexico, in what promises to be their toughest challenge of the tournament so far.

South Africa's World Cup journey came to an end in the Round of 32, but the tournament will still be remembered as a successful one for Bafana Bafana after they progressed beyond the group stage for the first time in the nation's history.

Saudi FA President Resigns

Meanwhile, the fallout from Saudi Arabia's disappointing World Cup campaign began almost immediately, with Saudi Arabian Football Federation president Yasser Al Misehal announcing his resignation after accepting responsibility for the national team's failure to progress beyond the group stage.

In a statement posted on his account on the social media platform X, Al Misehal said he had decided to step aside and allow a new leadership team to take charge rather than remain in office until the end of his term.

Saudi Arabia, who are preparing to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup, had hoped to replicate their historic run to the knockout stage at the 1994 tournament. Instead, their seventh World Cup appearance ended with another group-stage elimination.

The managerial changes were not limited to Saudi Arabia. South Korea head coach Hong Myung-bo also announced his resignation following heavy criticism after his side's group-stage exit. The 57-year-old was unable to guide the Koreans through a group featuring hosts Mexico, South Africa and Czechia, repeating the disappointment of his previous spell in charge when South Korea were also eliminated in the group stage at the 2014 FIFA World Cup.