South Africa vs Canada Bet Builder Tips: Maseko the man for Bafana Bafana

| Sunday 28th June 2026, 3:30

Sunday 28th June 2026, 3:30

South africa vs canada bet builder tips sunday 28 june 2026

The first round of 32 match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be played between Group A runners-up and Group B runners-up Canada at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, this Sunday (12pm local, 8pm BST).

Below are my South Africa vs Canada Bet Builder Tips, featuring a player from both countries.

South Africa vs Canada Bet Builder Tips

Match Result - Canada
Player 2+ Shots (Sub Switch) - Thapelo Maseko (ZAF)
Player 1+ Shots on Target (Sub Switch) - Cyle Larin (CAN)
Player 2+ Fouls Won - Khuliso Mudau (ZAF)

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*odds correct at time of publishing

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Match Result - Canada

South Africa recovered admirably from their 2-0 defeat to co-hosts Mexico on the tournament’s opening day, scoring a late equaliser in a 1-1 draw with the Czech Republic before beating South Korea 1-0 to finish as runners-up in Group A.

Their reward is a round of 32 meeting with another co-host, Canada, who were in the driving seat for top spot in Group B following a 1-1 draw with Bosnia-Herzegovina and a 6-0 thrashing of Qatar before losing 2-1 to Switzerland.

That final result pushed Les Rouges down to second place and forced them out of Canada, with this knockout match taking place in the USA instead.

While Jesse Marsch’s side will no longer enjoy ‘home’ advantage, Canada still boast the more talented starting XI and squad, with a narrow defeat to a solid Switzerland outfit unlikely to knock their confidence too much.

South Africa were awful against Mexico and while they showed a lot of spirit against the Czech Republic, it took an 83rd-minute penalty to draw them level before an admittedly impressive win over South Korea.

I don’t foresee a landslide victory, but I’m backing Canada to get the job done inside regulation time on Sunday.

Player 2+ Shots (Sub Switch) - Thapelo Maseko (ZAF)

Thapelo Maseko, who spent the second half of the 2025/26 season on loan at Cypriot side AEL Limassol from Mamelodi Sundowns, didn’t play a single minute of South Africa’s World Cup opener against Mexico, but he’s now established himself as a key player in Hugo Broos’ side after starting against the Czech Republic and South Korea.

The 23-year-old shot three times in his country’s stalemate with the Czechs before recording five efforts against South Korea, scoring with his final attempt to send Bafana Bafana into the knockouts.

Maseko is a certainty to start against Canada and after shooting eight times across his first two appearances at these finals, finding the net against South Korea, he surely won’t be shy to shoot on Sunday, so 2+ shots, with the added insurance of Sub Switch, looks like a solid leg in this Bet Builder.

Betfred's Sub Switch rolls your bet to the oncoming substitute, so you stay in the game, even when your player doesn’t.

Sub Switch

Pre-Match Bet Builder & Single bets on qualifying Player selections. Selected leagues & markets only. Applies to Price Boosts & Turbo Boosts. Extra-time will count. T&Cs Apply.

Sub Switch

Pre-Match Bet Builder & Single bets on qualifying Player selections. Selected leagues & markets only. Applies to Price Boosts & Turbo Boosts. Extra-time will count. T&Cs Apply.

South Africa vs Canada Odds

Player 1+ Shots on Target (Sub Switch) - Cyle Larin (CAN)

Much of the Canadian attention is focused on their all-time leading goalscorer, Jonathan David, who hit a hat-trick in the demolition of Qatar, but the Juventus striker failed to even register a shot on target against Switzerland, seeing one left-footed effort miss and another blocked.

Meanwhile, Cyle Larin, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Southampton from Real Mallorca, has registered at least one shot on target in all three of his appearances, despite only coming on in the 76th minute of Canada’s opening game against Bosnia-Herzegovina.

The 31-year-old scored within two minutes of his introduction, and that strike earned him a start against Qatar. While he failed to follow up with a goal on his first start, he fired off six shots, forcing two saves, and with his only attempt against Switzerland, also hit the target.

Sub Switch will be handy for this bet, too, as Larin could be replaced by two capable forwards, Villarreal’s Tani Oluwayesi or Union Saint-Gilloise’s Promise David; the former has registered one shot on target at this World Cup (three appearances, one start) while the latter has recorded three (two appearances, one start), all against Switzerland, scoring with his first.

Player 2+ Fouls Won - Khuliso Mudau (ZAF)

South Africa right back Khuliso Mudau was fouled six times in the group stage, winning three free-kicks against Mexico, one against the Czech Republic, and two against South Korea.

The 31-year-old, who plays his club football for Mamelodi Sundowns, was a target at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, too, earning six fouls across his four appearances, including two apiece against Egypt and Zimbabwe.

Mudau averaged 1.6 and 2.1 fouls won per game, respectively, in the 2025/26 South African Premier League and CAF Champions League, so no matter what competition he plays in, he's usually good to win a foul or two.

Canada have fouled 32 times so far at this year's World Cup, conceding 13 last time out to Switzerland, so they're not shy to stick a foot in.

World Cup Odds