Canada takes on South Africa in first World Cup knockout match
The men's team faces South Africa on Sunday at noon Los Angeles time, with multiple free watch parties set up across Metro Vancouver.
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Canada plays its first knockout game at a men's World Cup on Sunday, June 28, at noon, taking on South Africa in Los Angeles' SoFi Stadium.
The Canadians finished second in their group and drew a favourable matchup — South Africa ranks 54th in FIFA's standings compared to Canada's 32nd. Though the team is not playing at home, watch parties across Metro Vancouver will give locals a chance to gather.
The FIFA Fan Festival at PNE Grounds (2901 E. Hastings St.) opens at 11 a.m. and closes at 10 p.m., with hours varying by day. Canada Soccer's watch party at The Shipyards in North Vancouver features a nine-metre outdoor screen, beverage garden, food trucks, and live family-friendly entertainment, starting at noon. Granville Island will open its viewing area one hour before the match at 11 a.m., with seating for 1,000 people. A seven-metre screen will be set up on Granville Street's downtown pedestrian zone, which remains closed to car and bus traffic until the World Cup final on July 19.
Canada jerseys are running scarce — Richmond's Sportstown Soccer sold nearly all 120 units ordered for the tournament. The owner said the lead-up was unusually quiet before fan demand surged.
