Canada and South Africa will be looking to make more history on Sunday when both nations face each other in the knockout stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Co-hosts Canada and South Africa have already made history as either nation had never reached this stage of the World Cup before now and they could not have asked for a grander stage than the spectacular SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, United States of America (USA).

South Africa is one of nine African countries from 10 to have reached the last 32, making the continent the major beneficiary of the expanded 48-team format.

The Bafana Bafana looked dead and buried in a 2-0 defeat to Mexico in the tournament opener, losing two players to red cards, however, a hard-fought 1-0 victory over South Korea fired them into uncharted territory.

Canada also celebrated qualifying for the round of 32 but falling 2-1 to Switzerland in their final group game, they lost their ‘home’ status that the group winner would have enjoyed. So they have been forced to head to the United States.

Their American coach Jesse Marsch is banking on the “X-factor” of returning superstar Alphonso Davies to elevate his team in Sunday’s showdown.

Bayern Munich defender Davies was sidelined for the entire group phase due to a hamstring injury and Marsch said he relished the return of the undoubted star of Canadian soccer.

“Now that we have Alphonso back and healthy and ready to perform, I think it’s a big moment for the team and a big boost for the team,” Marsch said on Saturday. “He’s a big X factor for us,” he added.

“Being on the pitch, the belief they have in him, the belief he has in himself, I think changes the possibility of what the potential of our team is, and what we can do in this tournament,” Marsch said.