Bell Media announced on June 30, 2026, that an average of 5.2 million Canadians tuned in to watch Canada's 1-0 victory over South Africa in the round of 32 of the FIFA World Cup on June 28, 2026. This makes it the most-watched non-final knockout match of a FIFA World Cup tournament in Canadian history, according to the company.
The match, broadcast on TSN, marked Canada's first-ever knockout stage appearance in a men's World Cup. The single goal was scored by Jonathan David in the 42nd minute, as confirmed by match reports. Canada advanced to the round of 16 with this win.
The previous record for a non-final World Cup knockout match in Canada was set during the 2022 tournament, though exact figures were not immediately available. Bell Media noted that the viewership peaked at 6.1 million during the final moments of the match.
This audience figure surpasses many other major sporting events in Canada, though it remains below the record for the 2022 World Cup final, which drew over 10 million viewers. The strong viewership reflects growing interest in soccer in Canada following the national team's qualification for back-to-back World Cups.
