How to watch South Africa vs Canada in the USA

Broadcast options across the United States include FOX and Telemundo on standard cable and satellite television services.

Fans can also stream the match live on Fubo, DirecTV Stream, Sling Blue, Hulu + Live TV, and Peacock Premium. Don’t miss this exciting soccer showdown.

Can I watch South Africa vs Canada for free?

Fans in the United States can watch this highly anticipated matchup live on Fubo and DirecTV Stream, both of which offer eligible new users a free five-day trial.

With nationwide availability on both platforms, viewers can follow every key moment of the contest from start to finish.

Match Preview: What’s at stake?

History will be on the line when South Africa and Canada meet in a matchup that guarantees a new milestone for one of these nations. Neither team had ever advanced beyond the group stage before making history in 2016.

South Africa earned second place with a surprising win over South Korea, while Canada advanced thanks to a victory over Qatar and a draw with Bosnia despite falling to Switzerland in their final group match.

After already achieving their best World Cup performances, both sides now have a chance to further cement their legacy with a place in the Round of 16 on the line.

South Africa vs Canada: Predicted Lineups

South Africa (4-2-3-1): Ronwen Williams; Khuliso Mudau, Mbekezeli Mbokazi, Ime Okon, Aubrey Modiba; Thalente Mbatha, Teboho Mokoena; Thapelo Maseko, Relebohile Mofokeng, Oswin Appollis; Evidence Makgopa.

Canada (4-4-2): Maxime Crépeau; Alistair Johnston, Luc de Fougerolles, Derek Cornelius, Richie Laryea; Tajon Buchanan, Stephen Eustáquio, Nathan Saliba, Ali Ahmed; Jonathan David, Cyle Larin.

What time is the South Africa vs Canada match?

The match kicks off today, June 28, at 3:00 PM (ET). For viewers in different regions of the United States, here are the local start times:

Eastern Time: 3:00 PM
Central Time: 2:00 PM
Mountain Time: 1:00 PM
Pacific Time: 12:00 PM

However, and despite having high hopes, South Korea’s tournament life is over. Their survival hinged entirely on the remaining group-stage results. They were sit precariously in third place with 3 points and a minus-1 goal differential, and in the end, the development of the round 3 didn’t play on their favor.

Here are the final standings for Group A:

What South Korea needed to advance to the Round of 32

Following Group L conclussion, South Korea sit precariously in eight place in the live third-place wildcard standings in the 2026 World Cup. To maintain a qualification spot by the end of the group stage, the Taegeuk Warriors needed results below them to fall perfectly into place.

Specifically, they needed chasing teams to drop points or fail to eclipse South Korea’s minus-1 goal differential, but with DR Congo’s victory, they were eliminated. Let’s look at the current third-place landscape:

There was expectation for what would happen in the remainder of the games in the group stage finale, as the Korean side wanted to play in the next round, and they were going to face the winner of Group G: Belgium.

Mexico had already secured their first-place finish after their 1-0 win over South Korea. Thus, entering the final matchday, El Tri had nothing on the line, while Czechia, South Africa, and South Korea were left to battle for second place and a potential third-place seed in the round of 32.

Mexico’s calm was made crystal clear by Javier Aguirre’s decision to leave Raul Jimenez out of the starting lineup against Czechia. However, South Korea made a shocking decision of their own, as Heung-min Son didn’t start against South Africa. Similarly, during Czechia’s game against Mexico, Patrik Schick didn’t start for the Representatives.

Whether those decisions played a role in how the group standings panned out or not, we can only speculate, but it’s all counterfactual. What is a fact, however, is that Mexico and South Africa are through to the round of 32 at the 2026 World Cup. As for South Korea, they aren’t eliminated just yet. However, their fate is no longer in their hands. The same can’t be said about Czechia.

Final scores in Group A

Although they were the only team with nothing to play for on the final matchday, Mexico put together the best performance of any team in Group A. El Tri completed a perfect group stage with a 3-0 win over Czechia, finishing the first round of the 2026 World Cup with three straight clean sheets.

To make things even better, after Raul Rangel kept his goal under lock and key, Mexico paid tribute to Guillermo Ochoa with a late substitution against Czechia. Finally, the legendary goalkeeper had his moment at the 2026 World Cup and in front of his nation.

Meanwhile, at Monterrey Stadium, South Korea put on yet another disappointing outing as they fell against South Africa by a minimum score of 1-0. The win secured South Africa’s place as Group A’s runner-up and left South Korea in need of a miracle. As for Czechia, they are officially out of the 2026 World Cup.

Who are Mexico and South Africa playing next?

While South Africa have already learned their next opponent as well as when and where they will play in the round of 32, Mexico don’t have as many certainties. South Africa will take on Canada on June 28 in Los Angeles.

As for the co-hosts of the 2026 World Cup, Mexico will play at home at Mexico City and on June 30, but their opponent has yet to be confirmed. All Mexico know it’s that it will be a third-place team from Group C/E/F/H/I.

Group A final standings at 2026 World Cup

The dramatic shift comes after Son’s quiet outing against Mexico at Guadalajara Stadium on Matchday 2. The LAFC attacker struggled to find his footing against the tournament co-hosts, finishing the match with zero shots on target before being substituted in the 57th minute by manager Hong Myung-bo.

That frustrating performance appears to be the primary catalyst for his omission tonight. The decision is purely tactical, as the superstar forward carries no injury designation and remains available to make an impact as a second-half substitute.

South Korea’s round of 32 ticket hangs in the balance

The officiating crew for tonight’s clash between South Korea and South Africa can expect a highly intense environment. With both nations fighting tooth and nail for a spot in the knockout stage, the high-pressure stakes make Hong Myung-bo’s gamble to bench his most seasoned leader all the more staggering.

The battle will take place at Monterrey Stadium, a venue that might offer a unique psychological advantage to the Asian squad. Mexican fans have famously shown immense affection and support toward South Korea in recent tournaments, and that roaring local backing in the stands could provide a crucial lift.

The qualification math remains clear: a victory over South Africa automatically punches South Korea’s ticket to the Round of 32 as the Group A runners-up. Even if Czechia pulls off a surprise upset against Mexico in the parallel fixture, the Tigers of Asia would still advance in second place, booking a marquee knockout matchup against Canada.

Argentina’s Facundo Tello has been assigned as the head official for today’s massive clash between Bafana Bafana and the Taegeuk Warriors. This marks Tello’s second high-profile assignment of the tournament, having previously refereed the 1-1 Matchday 1 draw between Canada and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

An experienced veteran on the international stage, Tello boasts an extensive track record that includes over 350 career matches officiated. Known for maintaining tight control on the pitch, he has issued nearly 1,600 yellow cards (averaging 4.7 per game), brandished 110 red cards, and pointed to the penalty spot roughly 75 times.

With various advancement scenarios hanging in the balance, both South Africa and South Korea desperately need a positive result to secure a place in the knockout stage, as they battle alongside Czechia for a coveted spot in the Round of 32.

The rest of the officiating crew for South Africa vs. South Korea

Given the immense pressure surrounding this Group A finale, FIFA has flanked Tello with an experienced, all-South American officiating crew. Here is the complete list of officials assigned to manage the pitch at Monterrey Stadium:

• Main Referee: Facundo Tello (Argentina)
• Assistant Referee 1: Juan Pablo Bellati (Argentina)
• Assistant Referee 2: Gabriel Chade (Argentina)
• Fourth Official: Andres Rojas (Colombia)

With the refereeing assignments locked in, Bafana Bafana and the Taegeuk Warriors will battle under a watchful eye, a matchup being monitored closely by Czechia, the group’s third contender vying for a ticket to the 2026 World Cup knockout rounds.

The critical matchup will take place at Monterrey Stadium in Mexico—the venue formerly known as Estadio BBVA. The facility is one of several international hosts required to temporarily alter its name to comply with FIFA’s strict corporate branding and commercial guidelines.

Monterrey Stadium has already been the backdrop for two high-scoring fixtures earlier in the tournament, hosting Tunisia’s difficult group-stage stretch, which included a 5-1 defeat against Sweden on June 14 and a 4-0 loss to Japan on June 20.

With US broadcast information and kickoff times locked in, soccer fans are just hours away from a highly anticipated, do-or-die clash between South Africa and South Korea.

Other matches that Monterrey will host

Beyond today’s monumental Group A showdown, Monterrey Stadium is scheduled to host one final blockbuster event for the 2026 World Cup: a high-stakes Round of 32 knockout match on June 29.

That prime-time elimination fixture will pit the winner of Group F against the runner-up from Group C, which could feature heavyweights like the Netherlands, Brazil, or Japan, before the tournament bids farewell to Monterrey and shifts its primary focus to the United States.

Weather and attendance for South Africa and South Korea

Conditions will be sweltering in Nuevo Leon, Mexico, for today’s match. The weather forecast for Monterrey calls for peak summer heat, with a projected high of 90°F (32°C) and dropping to a humid low of 72°F (22°C) around the stadium.

To meet tournament guidelines, FIFA has capped the official seating capacity at 51,243 spectators. Under normal circumstances, Monterrey Stadium safely accommodates up to 53,500 fans for domestic Liga MX fixtures and major entertainment events.

How to watch South Africa vs South Korea in the USA

Fans across the United States can watch this highly anticipated contest live on FS1 and Telemundo through traditional TV coverage.

Streaming options include Fubo, DirecTV Stream, Sling Blue, Hulu + Live TV, and Peacock Premium. Be sure to tune in for this thrilling clash.

Can I watch South Africa vs South Korea for free?

Viewers in the United States can watch this marquee matchup live on Fubo and DirecTV Stream. New users may qualify for a free five-day trial.

Each service offers live coverage across the country, giving viewers access to every major play and pivotal moment as it unfolds.

Match Preview: What’s at stake?

Everything is on the line as South Korea and South Africa meet in a must-win World Cup clash. South Korea is looking to rebound from a loss to Mexico, a game heavily influenced by a costly goalkeeping mistake. With their hopes of finishing second still alive, the Koreans need all three points.

South Africa, meanwhile, remains in contention after earning a 1-1 draw against the Czech Republic and knows a win would move Bafana Bafana ahead of South Korea in the standings. With advancement at stake, expect an intense battle from start to finish.

South Africa vs South Korea: Predicted Lineups

South Africa (4-3-3): Ronwen Williams; Khuliso Mudau, Tylon Smith Okon, Mbekezeli Mbokazi, Aubrey Modiba; Thalente Mbatha, Jayden Adams, Siphesihle Sithole; Oswin Appollis, Relebohile Mofokeng, Elias Mokwana.

South Korea (3-4-2-1): Kim Min-jae; Lee Kang-in, Kim Young-gwon, Lee Han-beom; Kim Jin-su, Hwang In-beom, Paik Seung-ho, Seol Young-woo; Lee Jae-sung, Lee Dong-gyeong; Son Heung-min.

What time is the South Africa vs South Korea match?

The match kicks off today, June 24, at 9:00 PM (ET). For viewers in different regions of the United States, here are the local start times:

Eastern Time: 9:00 PM
Central Time: 8:00 PM
Mountain Time: 7:00 PM
Pacific Time: 6:00 PM

With everything to play for, South Africa enter the finale with their tournament life on the line. Expectation is building following Bafana Bafana’s hard-fought draw against Czechia in Round 2, a result that kept their hopes alive in a Group A where hosts Mexico have already locked up the top spot.

On the other hand, South Korea sit in a much more enviable position, controlling their own destiny in second place with 3 points. A simple draw will be enough for the Taegeuk Warriors to secure a spot in the next round, meaning they take the pitch with the absolute certainty that avoiding defeat punch their ticket to the knockouts.

While South Africa are fully aware of their current standing in the FIFA Rankings, the team knows its performance over the first two matches didn’t quite live up to expectations. However, South Africa have a prime opportunity to rewrite the narrative and salvage their tournament in this high-stakes group finale.

What happens if South Africa beat South Korea?

If South Africa pull off the victory over South Korea, Bafana Bafana would automatically leapfrog them to finish on 4 points. Their exact seeding would then depend on the outcome of Czechia’s concurrent match against Mexico; if Czechia also win, goal differential would serve as the primary tiebreaker since the head-to-head match between South Africa and Czechia ended in a tie.

Conversely, a South African victory would put South Korea in serious jeopardy of elimination. The Koreans would desperately need Mexico to deny Czechia a win just to preserve a potential lifeline as one of the best third-place finishers.

What happens if South Africa and South Korea tie?

A draw would see the sides split the points, an outcome that keep South Korea safely through but leave Bafana Bafana on thin ice. South Africa could still technically squeeze through in third place with 2 points, but that scenario entirely depends on Mexico defeating Czechia to keep the Czechs below them.

Furthermore, out-of-group help would become a necessity. If teams in other quadrants like Bosnia and Herzegovina win their respective finales to reach 4 points, South Africa’s math gets incredibly complicated. A draw forces Bafana Bafana to look at the scoreboard, needing specific negative results from teams like the DR Congo, Ecuador, and Senegal just to sneak in on the third-place wild-card ladder.

What happens if South Africa lose to South Korea?

If South Africa fall to South Korea, Bafana Bafana will be officially eliminated from the 2026 World Cup. A defeat would mark the nation’s fourth all-time exit in the group stage, following similar opening-round heartbreaks at France 1998, South Korea/Japan 2002, and as hosts in South Africa 2010.

Group A and best third-place standings

With Mexico already running away with first place, Czechia, South Korea, and South Africa all control varying degrees of their own destiny. Here is how the standings look ahead of the final whistle:

Group A standings:

Best third-place standings*:

South Korea arrive ranked No. 24 in the FIFA standings with 1,591.75 points, reflecting their consistency in international competition and strong performances in North America.

The Taegeuk Warriors opened their campaign with a 2-1 comeback win over Czechia before falling 1-0 to Mexico in a tightly contested second match. South Africa, meanwhile, suffered a 2-0 defeat to Mexico but kept their hopes alive with a 1-1 draw against Czechia, setting up a high-stakes final showdown.

How do South Korea and South Africa compare in the FIFA rankings?

While South Korea enter the match ranked No. 24 in the FIFA standings, South Africa sit further down at No. 61 with 1,428.21 points. The gap underscores the difference in competitive profile between the two sides, with Korea showing consistency and control in recent matches, while South Africa have displayed flashes of quality but remain inconsistent across key phases despite their draw against Czechia.

What is at stake for South Korea and South Africa?

Qualification for the Round of 32 remains within reach for both sides, with the final match effectively serving as a knockout scenario depending on other Group A results.

A victory for either team would significantly strengthen their chances of advancing, while a draw could leave qualification dependent on goal difference and third-place calculations.

The reality for the Asian side is quite different, at least in this statistic. The South Korean team is ranked 24th in the FIFA World Ranking, holding a clear advantage over its opponents.

Group A remains wide open heading into Matchday 3. All four teams, including Mexico and the Czech Republic, are looking to leave everything on the pitch and secure their place in the Round of 32 at the World Cup.

South Africa look to pull off an upset

If both South Africa and the Czech Republic win their matches, they will finish tied in the group stage. However, neither team would be able to catch Mexico at the top of the standings mathematically.

With their head-to-head match having ended in a draw, the team that finishes higher in the group will ultimately be decided by goal difference and, if necessary, goals scored. South Africa is still in contention.

South Africa eye historic feat

France 1998, Korea-Japan 2002 and South Africa 2010 — what do these three World Cup editions have in common? Bafana Bafana failed to advance beyond the group stage in all of them, something they will look to achieve for the first time in their history at the 2026 edition.

With Memo Ochoa out of the starting XI against South Korea, Mexico secured a 1-0 win against the Asian squad. Now, El Tricolor returns to a renovated Mexico City Stadium for a key game.

Mexico will play against Czechia on June 24 at 9:00 PM (ET). It will be the second game for El Tricolor at Mexico City Stadium, having already secured the top of the group thanks to Luis Romo’s goal following a major mistake by South Korea’s goalkeeper.

Why has Mexico secured the Group A leadership?

The Group A standings after Mexico’s win over South Korea are set. El Tri has six points and tops the group, securing leadership no matter what happens against Czechia.

South Korea has three points, and a potential win against South Africa would tie Mexico in points if El Tricolor loses to Czechia. Nevertheless, the new tie-breaker rules would favor the co-hosts despite a potential tie in points.

Because Mexico defeated South Korea, the co-hosts are favored in the tie-breaker rules, as head-to-head matches are now the primary metric used to define who finishes on top. However, Mexico may not even need to rely on it if it gets a positive result against Czechia in the final game.

Who will Mexico face in the Round of 32?

As Group A leaders, Mexico is set to face a third-placed team from Group C, E, F, H, or I at Mexico City Stadium in the Round of 32. If El Tri wins in that phase, it would return to the capital for the Round of 16.