Davies returns as Canada face South Africa in World Cup knockout

Davies returns for South Africa knockout

Alphonso Davies is back. Your team faces South Africa on Sunday in the World Cup Round of 32, and Canada's star man is expected to return from injury (1) (2). It is a matinee kickoff, the kind of moment a co-host lives for, first knockout match of the tournament, everything on the line.

Canada go in without the grind of qualifying, sharpened by the group stage but untested in a single-elimination World Cup match. That changes now.

Broos: South Africa had a plan

South Africa's manager Hugo Broos has taken his team to the knockout stage for the first time, and he did not arrive here by accident. "When I came here, I had a plan. I kept the plan till the end, till the results were there, because I knew that was the way to do it," Broos said (5).

He has spent his tenure asking why South Africa are not a dominant force in African football. Now his side stands between Canada and the last 16.

Fan reactions

Canadian supporters are treating this as the biggest match in program history, no exaggeration. The Davies return news has the subreddit buzzing, with fans calling it a must-win and pointing to the home crowd advantage. The prevailing mood is cautious optimism: South Africa are respected but nobody expects a passive Canada side. Join the conversation.