The first knockout match of the expanded 48-team World Cup was decided in the second minute of added time, when Canada captain Stephen Eustaquio struck to beat South Africa 1-0 at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. The goal, a sudden end to a tight contest between two nations that had never before advanced from the group stage, sent the co-hosts through to a round-of-16 meeting with the winner of Monday’s late fixture between the Netherlands and Morocco. Canada’s coach Jesse Marsch described the timing as “incredibly dramatic” and predicted an “immense” inspirational effect back home.

Attention now shifts to three round-of-32 ties on Monday, each carrying the weight of immediate elimination. In Houston, five-time champions Brazil face Japan. Carlo Ancelotti’s side topped Group C, with Vinícius Júnior scoring four goals, but they are mindful of a 3-2 friendly defeat to Japan last October. Captain Marquinhos called that loss “a learning experience,” while Ancelotti stressed the need to be “ready for everything that can happen in a knockout tie.” Japan finished second in Group F behind the Netherlands, drawing with both the Dutch and Sweden, and coach Hajime Moriyasu noted a growing unity within his squad. The winners will meet either Ivory Coast or Norway in the last 16.

Germany, playing their first World Cup knockout match since the 2014 final, take on Paraguay in Foxborough. Julian Nagelsmann’s team won Group E after thrashing Curaçao and edging Ivory Coast before a defeat by Ecuador. Ranked tenth in the world, they are not widely tipped as title contenders, but Nagelsmann insisted the objective remains “winning the game tomorrow.” Paraguay advanced as one of the best third-placed sides, recovering from a heavy opening loss to the United States to beat Turkey and draw with Australia. They are in the knockout phase for the first time since 2010 and have had to relocate rapidly from their West Coast base. The victors will face France or Sweden.

The day’s final match, in Monterrey, pits the Netherlands against Morocco in what analysts across Europe and North Africa view as the most evenly balanced tie of the round. The Dutch, three-time runners-up, scored ten goals in the group stage but kept no clean sheets. Morocco, semi-finalists in 2022, finished second in Brazil’s group and field a squad steeped in European top-flight experience, including Dutch-born defender Noussair Mazraoui and forward Ismael Saibari, who is moving from PSV Eindhoven to Bayern Munich. The winner will meet Canada.

The round of 32, a new addition to the World Cup calendar, continues through Saturday with twelve group winners and a mix of runners-up and third-placed teams all facing sudden-death conditions. Every fixture from now until the final on 19 July will be decided on the day, with no second chances.