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South Africa vs Canada Tickets | World Cup Round of 32
Canada's first-ever World Cup knockout match brings them to Los Angeles Stadium in Inglewood for a meeting with South Africa on June 28, with kickoff at 3 pm ET (12 pm PT). As co-hosts, Canada might have hoped to keep a knockout tie at home, but a final-day result means they travel west to California instead, with neither side enjoying anything like a home advantage. It is the opening fixture of the World Cup Round of 32, and a genuinely historic one: both nations are contesting their first knockout match at a World Cup, so whoever wins will record their country's first-ever victory in the tournament's elimination rounds.
Los Angeles Stadium, better known as the home of the NFL's Rams and Chargers, is one of the most modern venues at the tournament, sitting just a few miles from LAX. With both teams arriving on the back of breakthrough group campaigns, and large, energized followings expected from each, it has the feel of an occasion that means a great deal to both sets of supporters. The contrast in styles — South Africa's discipline and counter-attacking threat against Canada's pace and attacking depth — should make for an intriguing first knockout test.
How to Buy Tickets for South Africa vs Canada
Demand for World Cup fixtures will be high, and tickets are expected to move quickly once allocations open. In fact, our customer service team regularly hear from fans who want to know: How can I book World Cup tickets? And it can be tricky. Let's walk you through all the steps so you can start thinking about booking your trip to the host cities. And if your team goes all the way, you could be there for the World Cup final.
- Select the match you want to attend and click 'View Tickets'.
- Select the area you would like to sit within the stadium graphic on the right-hand side.
- Select the number of tickets you would like to purchase.
- Click on the green 'Buy' button.
- Complete the order form using your personal details.
- Don't forget to check that all your information has been input and is correct.
- Click 'Make Payment'.
- The tickets are now yours!
Ticket prices tend to vary depending on the seat category and match type, so do bear that in mind when selecting matches. Some games, mainly knockout matches or popular teams, can sell out incredibly quickly, so make sure you book early and are on high alert for when tickets come on sale!
South Africa vs Canada Preview & Predictions
South Africa arrive in Los Angeles having grown into the tournament. Hugo Broos' side recovered from an opening defeat to Mexico to draw with Czechia and then beat Korea Republic to clinch second place in Group A — a result that took them past the group stage of a World Cup for the first time. Their game is built on organization, physicality and quick transitions, and they have shown they can frustrate stronger sides before punishing them on the break.
Canada, under Jesse Marsch, finished as runners-up in Group B and bring greater attacking firepower. A 6–0 win over Qatar showed what they can do when given space, even if a final-day defeat to Switzerland cost them top spot and a chance to remain in Vancouver. They enter as marginal favorites on paper, with the higher FIFA ranking and the more eye-catching group campaign, but they are also adjusting to playing away from a home crowd for the first time at this tournament.
The key battle sits between South Africa's compact defensive block and Canada's wide attacking threat. If Bafana Bafana can stay disciplined and pick their moments to counter, this becomes a tight, low-scoring affair. If Canada find rhythm in the wide areas and impose their pace, their depth should tell. A narrow Canada win feels the most plausible outcome, but South Africa have already shown at this World Cup that they can upset the odds.
Key Players to Watch
South Africa's hopes lean on a tight core that has carried them this far. Captain and goalkeeper Ronwen Williams is the side's spine, calm under pressure and capable of match-defining saves. In midfield, Teboho Mokoena returns from suspension to set the tempo and drive the team forward, while the energy of young attackers such as Relebohile Mofokeng and Oswin Appollis gives South Africa a genuine threat in transition, feeding lone striker Evidence Makgopa. The suspended Themba Zwane is a notable absence, but Broos has built a unit that does not rely on any single individual.
Canada's strength is the balance between experience and pace. Striker Jonathan David remains their main goalscoring outlet and the clearest route to breaking down a deep block, while Tajon Buchanan and Jacob Shaffelburg offer the wide running that can stretch South Africa's back line. Much will depend on the fitness of left-back Alphonso Davies, who has yet to feature at the tournament, and midfielder Stephen Eustaquio, who has been managing a knock; both would significantly raise Canada's ceiling. Marsch will also have to reshape his midfield with Ismaël Koné ruled out for the rest of the tournament through injury.
Los Angeles Stadium – Match Venue
Los Angeles Stadium in Inglewood will provide a striking backdrop for the opening knockout tie on June 28. Opened in 2020, it is one of the newest grounds on the World Cup roster and one of the most distinctive, sitting under a vast translucent canopy roof that has become its signature feature. Home to both the Los Angeles Rams and the Los Angeles Chargers, it holds around 70,000 for events of this kind and can be expanded further for the biggest occasions, having already staged a Super Bowl and concerts by some of the world's biggest artists.
The concourses are spacious, the facilities are slick, and the sightlines are exactly what you'd expect from a stadium built for major American sport. With both Canada and South Africa likely to travel in good numbers, and a large neutral crowd drawn from the LA area, it should make for a lively atmosphere for a first knockout match that means so much to both nations.
How to Get to Los Angeles Stadium for This Match
Los Angeles Stadium sits in Inglewood, only a short distance from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), which makes it one of the easier venues to reach for traveling fans. That said, Los Angeles is a sprawling, car-oriented city, so most supporters will arrive by road. Rideshare services are widely used and there are dedicated drop-off zones around the stadium, though these become congested as kickoff approaches, so allowing extra time is sensible.
For those driving, the stadium has extensive on-site parking, but spaces are best pre-booked, and the surrounding freeways can be slow-moving on event days. Public transit options include the Metro K Line, with shuttle connections from nearby stations to the stadium; these fill up quickly before big matches, so arriving early is rarely a bad idea. As with most Los Angeles fixtures, the heat can be significant earlier in the day, so carrying water and factoring in time for security checks is wise.
Inglewood Fan Guide for Match Day
Inglewood has transformed in recent years into one of LA's main sporting hubs, with Los Angeles Stadium at its center and a growing cluster of bars, restaurants and open spaces nearby. The area immediately around the ground is built for big crowds and tends to fill up quickly on event days, offering the closest thing to a central gathering point for supporters before kickoff.
Further afield, the wider Los Angeles area offers almost endless options, from Downtown LA to the coast at Santa Monica and Venice. The match-day atmosphere across the region is usually relaxed and spread out, with supporters moving between hotels, bars and transit links rather than concentrating in a single fan zone, so it's worth planning your base in advance.
Road to the Round of 32: South Africa & Canada
Both teams reached this stage by topping expectations in their groups. South Africa came through Group A, finishing second behind co-hosts Mexico. After losing their opener 2–0 to Mexico, Bafana Bafana steadied themselves with a 1–1 draw against Czechia before a disciplined 1–0 win over Korea Republic secured qualification. It marked the first time South Africa have advanced past the group stage at a World Cup, having exited at that point in 1998, 2002 and as hosts in 2010.
Canada navigated Group B to finish as runners-up behind Switzerland. Marsch's side opened with a 1–1 draw against Bosnia and Herzegovina — their first-ever World Cup point — before a statement 6–0 win over Qatar that registered their first World Cup victory. A 2–1 defeat to Switzerland on the final matchday cost them top spot, sending them to Los Angeles rather than a home tie in Vancouver, but did not undo a campaign that confirmed their progress on the biggest stage.
The two nations have met only once before, a friendly more than fifteen years ago, so there is no real head-to-head history to lean on. That makes this very much a meeting defined by current form rather than the past: two sides reaching uncharted territory, each one win away from the first Round of 16 appearance in their history.
