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Canada is a co-host of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
But on Sunday, when the Canadian national team seeks its first-ever knockout round victory, their matchup with South Africa won't be held in Toronto or Vancouver.
It's a bit of a bummer for the host nation which is still trying to grow the sport of soccer in a country ruled by ice hockey.
It won't lower the stakes of the match. Canada will still want to defeat South Africa in the Round of 32.
It just won't be happening on home turf.
MORE: Why South Africa is known as Bafana Bafana
Where is Canada vs. South Africa game?
The matchup is being staged at SoFi Stadium, which is home of the Los Angeles Rams in the NFL.
It's located in Inglewood, California, essentially Los Angeles.
MORE: With Messi, history and magic go hand in hand
Why isn't Canada's game in Canada?
The World Cup schedule tried to give Canada a chance at knockout action in Canada.
If the Canadians had won their group, they would've played the Round of 32 in Canada.
But because they placed second in their group, the bracket instead sent them to SoFi Stadium.
It's a predetermined thing, and FIFA couldn't set up a system where Canada was home no matter what.
Instead, they have to deal with the L.A. heat as they try to get past South Africa.
More FIFA World Cup news:
- USA, England can meet on the biggest World Cup stage
- Why Norway brought 600 pounds of salmon to the World Cup
- Eloy Room leads Curacao to astounding World Cup history
- It had to be Mo Salah for Egypt
- Lamine Yamal outdoes Messi, Ronaldo in historic moment for Spanish wunderkind
Billy Heyen
Billy Heyen is a freelance writer with The Sporting News. He is a 2019 graduate of Syracuse University who spent his senior year following Jim Boeheim's basketball team around the country. His reporting work has also included extensive high school sports coverage at the Sandusky Register and Rochester Democrat & Chronicle. Adventures in sports writing have also led to in-person coverage of the Buffalo Sabres, Cleveland Guardians, U.S. men's national soccer team and a variety of minor league baseball stories. When people ask if he's seen a movie, the answer is usually "No, I was probably watching sports." Even away from sports, his main hobby is running (much slower than any athlete in these pages).
Source: Sporting News
