World Cup 2026: Three Matches That Could Shake Up the Tournament And Why South Africans Should Be Watching

After Bafana Bafana’s frustrating 2-0 defeat to Mexico, two red cards, and enough stress to make every South African reach for another cup of coffee, the 2026 FIFA World Cup rolls on. The good news? The tournament is a marathon, not a sprint. The bad news? We’d already managed to collect red cards like they were Panini stickers.

Fortunately, there’s plenty more football ahead, and these three fixtures could have a major impact on the tournament.

• Venue: BMO Field, Toronto
• Kick-off: Friday, 12 June: 9:00 PM SAST

Canada begin their home World Cup campaign carrying the hopes of an entire nation. Playing in front of a passionate crowd always helps, but pressure can be a dangerous teammate.

Their biggest attacking weapon remains Jonathan David, one of Europe’s most clinical finishers, and he’ll be expected to provide the goals. Bosnia, meanwhile, arrive as the side nobody wants to underestimate. They play physical football, defend well, and are more than capable of making life uncomfortable for the favourites. If there’s one lesson South Africans learnt after Thursday night, it’s this: football doesn’t care about predictions. One minute you’re dreaming of a famous upset, the next you’re trying to remember how many players you’re actually allowed to finish with.

Prediction: Canada should edge this one, but don’t expect a walkover.

Predicted score: Canada 2-1 Bosnia and Herzegovina

• Venue: SoFi Stadium, Inglewood
• Kick-off: Saturday, 13 June :3:00 AM SAST

As co-hosts, the USA will have enormous expectations on their shoulders. Playing at home brings energy, but it also brings pressure, and Paraguay have built a reputation for frustrating bigger teams. Christian Pulisic is one of America’s main creative forces, while Paraguay’s disciplined defensive setup could turn this into one of the tightest matches of the opening round.

South African fans will probably watch this one with mixed emotions. Partly because it’s a great football match, and partly because we’re still recovering from seeing two of our own sent for an early shower.

Prediction: A cagey encounter with very few chances.

Predicted score: USA 1-0 Paraguay

• Venue: Levi’s Stadium
• Kick-off: Saturday, 13 June :9:00 PM SAST

On paper, Switzerland look comfortably stronger. Their squad has experience, organisation, and plenty of attacking quality, while Qatar will need an exceptional performance to cause an upset.

Of course, World Cups have a funny habit of ignoring what happens on paper. Just ask anyone who filled out a tournament bracket after the first day. Switzerland’s disciplined approach should eventually prove too much, but Qatar will likely make them work for every opportunity.

Prediction: Switzerland to control possession and win comfortably.

Predicted score: Switzerland 2-0 Qatar

South African supporters shouldn’t panic just yet. Yes, the opening match was disappointing. Yes, two red cards weren’t exactly part of Hugo Broos’ master plan. And yes, social media has already selected eleven different national coaches to replace him.

But the expanded 48-team FIFA World Cup format means opportunities still exist. The biggest priority now is discipline. Bafana need eleven players on the pitch for 90 minutes before anyone starts discussing knockout football. The next match is enormous. Win it, and belief returns. Lose it, and calculators across South Africa will suddenly become everyone’s favourite football accessory.

One thing is certain: this World Cup is only getting started, and if the opening fixtures have taught us anything, it’s that predicting football is almost as difficult as explaining VAR to your uncle during a braai.