Canada at the 2026 World Cup: Football transformation and historic advancement

After the final whistle in the match in which Canada defeated South Africa to advance to the round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup, coach Jesse Marsch rallied his players on the field, calling them "Canadian heroes." This is the first time in history that Canada has won a knockout match, which undoubtedly changes the face of soccer in the country. Marsch, known for his emotional statements, hit the nail on the head this time - soccer in Canada is gaining importance. "It's starting to be known as football, not soccer," said one supporter. Canada, which was one of the tournament hosts, was long overshadowed by the United States and Mexico. However, the national team's successes generated enormous interest in football in the country. National team captain Alphonso Davies admitted it was moving to see crowds of Canadian fans in Toronto during the match against Bosnia and Herzegovina. "It was surreal because I've never seen so many Canadians at a soccer game before," Davies said.  The Canadians managed to score a historic point, drawing with Bosnia and Herzegovina, and then achieved their first victory at the World Cup, beating Qatar 6-0. Despite the defeat against Switzerland, which deprived them of the opportunity to play the match in Canada, fans came to Los Angeles in large numbers to support the team in the match against South Africa. Stephen Eustaquio's winning goal in stoppage time earned Canada a place in the next round. Even though the match took place outside the country, the atmosphere was truly homely thanks to the support of the fans. "All I care about is our team and what we do together," Marsch emphasized, adding that these successes can inspire future generations. The Canadians will now face Morocco or the Netherlands, which will be a real challenge for them. Regardless of the outcome, soccer in Canada was changed forever. "I remember going to games with my father in the 1990s and Canadian fans were in the minority," recalled one fan. "It's different now and the energy of the fans can help us develop football even more in the country." --- ## Related Articles 1. [Canada Ghi Nhận Chiến Thắng Lịch Sử Trong Vòng Knockout World Cup](https://banthangvn.com/vi/news/canada-ghi-nhan-chien-thang-lich-su-trong-vong-knockout-world-cup) 2. [Starspieler Davies rechtzeitig fit für erstes K.o.-Spiel von Canada](https://mannschaftgoal.com/de/news/starspieler-davies-rechtzeitig-fit-fur-erstes-ko-spiel-von-kanada)