Canada Advances to World Cup 2026 Round of 16 with Last-Minute Goal
Eustaquio's Emotional Winning Moment
Stephen Eustaquio expressed that Canada 'kept believing and kept pushing' to achieve their thrilling late victory against South Africa, describing it as a collective and emotional team effort. He remarked that his decisive goal felt like a shared experience, as if the entire team had infused energy into the shot that found the net.
Eustaquio's dramatic strike in the 92nd minute secured a hard-fought win for co-hosts Canada over South Africa during the Round of 32 in the FIFA World Cup 2026, marking their first advancement to the last 16, held in Los Angeles on Sunday.
Reflecting on the moment, Eustaquio stated, 'We just kept believing, we kept pushing, and I think we couldn't have imagined it any other way. It was an amazing goal. When I shot it, I felt everybody shot it with me. Everybody put a little bit of power on it, and it went to the back of the net, so I'm very happy.'
The midfielder's goal came from the edge of the box after a South African clearance went awry, driving the ball low into the bottom-left corner, out of reach of goalkeeper Ronwen Williams.
Coach Celebrates 'Canadian Heroes'
Coach Jesse Marsch commended Eustaquio for his match-winning goal and praised the team's mentality following their thrilling win over South Africa. He noted that the goal encapsulated their determination and belief. Marsch expressed his hope that Eustaquio would 'put it on frame' and was thrilled to see him score, emphasizing that the team's effort, character, and resilience made them 'Canadian heroes.'
Marsch conveyed his pride in the players, stating he was extremely pleased with their historic achievement. 'And then it falls to Steph, and I just hope he'll put it on frame and give it a chance, and he buries it,' he said. 'The hard work from these guys, the character - they're Canadian heroes. That's what I told them at the end. They are now Canadian heroes. I'm so happy for them,' he added.
Looking Ahead for Canada
Marsch's team is set to face the winner of the match between the Netherlands and Morocco at Houston Stadium.