On the eve of one of the most significant matches in both nations’ football histories, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa turned diplomacy into football diplomacy, exchanging best wishes ahead of Sunday’s historic Round of 32 encounter at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Los Angeles.
According to an official readout released by the Canadian Prime Minister’s Office, the two leaders discussed the long-standing relationship between Canada and South Africa before looking ahead to what will be the first FIFA World Cup knockout match in the history of both nations.
The conversation underscored how football can unite countries even amid fierce sporting competition. While Carney and Ramaphosa reviewed cooperation on trade, investment, energy, agriculture and agrifood—including an upcoming South African agricultural delegation’s visit to Saskatchewan—the World Cup became the symbolic centrepiece of their call. Both leaders acknowledged the significance of Sunday’s match, agreeing that regardless of the result, it represents a milestone for football in their respective countries.
President Ramaphosa later shared details of the exchange, saying he and Carney wished one another well ahead of the knockout tie while reaffirming the strong bilateral relationship between their countries. The South African leader balanced diplomatic goodwill with national pride, rallying supporters behind Bafana Bafana with the message: “Kaofela! Go Bafana Bafana!”—a call for South Africans to unite behind the national team as it pursues a place in the Round of 16.
The match itself carries historic significance. Canada are preparing for their first-ever FIFA World Cup knockout appearance after progressing from the group stage for the first time, while South Africa have also reached the knockout rounds for the first time in their World Cup history. The winner will move into the Round of 16, marking another landmark achievement for either nation.
For Carney, the fixture also represents another milestone in a tournament Canada is co-hosting alongside the United States and Mexico. Earlier this month, the Prime Minister described the expanded 48-team World Cup as a defining moment for Canadian football and highlighted its expected economic and sporting legacy, including major investments in the country’s football infrastructure and athlete development.
Ramaphosa has likewise embraced football as a vehicle for national unity. Before South Africa departed for North America, he told the squad they carried “the hopes, the dreams, and the prayers” of more than 62 million South Africans, urging them to embrace their return to the world’s biggest football stage with courage and belief.
Sunday’s meeting therefore transcends a place in the Round of 16. It is also a showcase of sport’s diplomatic power—where two heads of government can celebrate decades of cooperation while passionately backing opposite sides for 90 minutes, demonstrating that fierce rivalry on the pitch can coexist with strong partnerships off it.
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