"Canada's star" challenges Morocco and the Netherlands.

The Canadian national team secured the first ticket to the Round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup, after clinching a last-minute victory over South Africa with a score of 1-0, on Sunday evening at the Sofi Stadium in Los Angeles, continuing its historic journey in the tournament hosted by Canada alongside the United States and Mexico.

Stephen Eustáquio scored the only goal of the match in the second minute of stoppage time (90+2), granting Canada an unprecedented qualification to the Round of 16, setting up a meeting with the winner of the anticipated clash between the Moroccan and Dutch teams, scheduled for Tuesday in Monterrey, Mexico.

Eustáquio, the scorer of the qualifying goal, did not hide his great confidence in his team's ability to continue their journey, sending a clear message of challenge to both the "Atlas Lions" and the "Oranje" before their decisive encounter.

The captain of the Canadian team said after the match: "We never stopped believing, and I think we deserved this goal in the end," adding: "I felt like everyone shot that ball with me. The team is calm, and we wanted Morocco and the Netherlands to see us and know who they will face in the next round."

Eustáquio's statement reflects the growing confidence within the Canadian camp after reaching the knockout stage. It also carries a direct message to the Moroccan and Dutch teams that the host nation will not be satisfied with just qualifying; they aspire to continue their adventure in the tournament.

The Canadian team will await the identity of their opponent in the Round of 16, in anticipation of the highly anticipated clash between Morocco and the Netherlands, which is one of the standout matchups of this round, given the "Atlas Lions'" ambition to continue their historic achievement after finishing fourth in the Qatar 2022 World Cup, and the "Oranje's" desire to reclaim their global glory.