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Here are the latest developments from the 2026 FIFA World Cup. All times Eastern:
4:37 p.m.
Canada wanted to stay home for the knockout stage, but coach Jesse Marsch says leaving the country may help the team reset. A win or draw against Switzerland would have kept Canada in Vancouver, where local support has turned the tournament into what Marsch called “a little bit of a circus.” Instead, Canada will face South Africa in Los Angeles in the country’s first men’s World Cup knockout game.
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4:15 p.m.
Alphonso Davies could still factor into Canada’s knockout game against South Africa on Sunday. Marsch said the Bayern Munich fullback, who has been recovering from a hamstring injury, remains in the team’s plans after missing Wednesday’s 2-1 loss to Switzerland. Coach Jesse Marsch also defended keeping opponents guessing about Davies’ status, saying Canada will look for any edge it can get at the World Cup.
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4:15 p.m.
Canada head coach Jesse Marsch says his team will not underestimate South Africa in Sunday’s World Cup knockout game in Los Angeles. South Africa upset South Korea 1-0 to reach the knockout stage, and Marsch said Bafana Bafana are physical, athletic and full of belief. He called them “the better team” in that decisive group-stage win.
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1:45 p.m.
Sweden’s players got an unexpected surprise at their World Cup base in Frisco, Texas, when they arrived for training to find part of Toyota Stadium demolished. Midfielder Besfort Zeneli said he initially thought a storm had caused the damage before learning it was part of a planned renovation project. FC Dallas said the controlled demolition did not involve explosives and has not affected the pitch or Sweden’s preparations for tonight’s final Group F match against Japan.
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11:15 a.m.
The expanded 48-team World Cup has reached its halfway point, with 54 of 104 matches complete. Thirteen teams — including co-hosts Canada, the United States and Mexico — have already clinched Round of 32 berths, while seven nations have been eliminated. The tournament has produced 161 goals, an average of 2.98 per game, the highest scoring rate at a men’s World Cup in more than 50 years. Lionel Messi leads all players with five goals, while Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland and Vinicius Júnior have four apiece heading into the final days of group play.
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10:15 a.m.
Canada is training in Vancouver on Thursday as it turns its attention to Sunday’s Round of 32 match against South Africa in Los Angeles. South Africa secured the matchup by upsetting South Korea 1-0 last night, finishing second in Group A. Canada lost 2-1 to Switzerland yesterday but still reached the knockout stage for the first time by finishing runner-up in Group B. Questions about captain Alphonso Davies’ availability persist after coach Jesse Marsch admitted he dressed the injured star as a “decoy,” saying Switzerland spent part of its pre-match preparation planning for Davies even though he did not play.
10:15 a.m.
Six World Cup matches are on the schedule on Thursday as Groups D, E, and F wrap up. Ecuador must beat Germany at 4 p.m. to keep its tournament hopes alive, while the Ivory Coast can clinch its first-ever knockout-stage berth with a win over Curacao at the same time. Japan meets Sweden, and the Netherlands faces Tunisia at 7 p.m., before Paraguay plays Australia and the United States takes on Turkey at 10 p.m.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 25, 2026.
The Canadian Press
