Who is the referee for South Africa vs Canada?

Referee Joao Pinheiro gestures during the UEFA Super Cup 2025 match between Paris Saint-Germain and Tottenham Hotspur at Stadio Friuli — Joao Pinheiro is at his first World Cup (Image credit: Getty Images)

The group stage is over. Bring on the knockout stage.

The World Cup round of 32 kicks off with just a single game on Sunday as co-hosts and Group B runners-up Canada play on neutral ground for the first time this summer.

Standing before them are another second-placed side, Group A runners-up South Africa, who booked passage through to this stage with a victory over South Korea last time out.

Portuguese referee Joao Pinheiro in action at the 2026 World Cup — Joao Pinheiro showed a straight red card in his only other game at this World Cup (Image credit: Getty Images)

No other games will be played on Sunday, allowing this game to take centre-stage.

The clash is set to be played at SoFi Stadium in the Los Angeles area, with kick-off set for midday local time (8pm UK time).

Joao Pinheiro took charge of Switzerland vs Bosnia and Herzegovina in the group stage — Joao Pinheiro is at his first major international tournament (Image credit: Getty Images)

The referee for the occasion is Portugal's Joao Pinheiro.

This will be the 38 year old's second game of this World Cup, which is Pinheiro's first-ever major international tournament outing.

His last game was Switzerland's somewhat bizarre victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina, with the Swiss running out 4-1 winners despite not opening the scoring until the 74th minute.

That late flurry of goals came after Pinheiro showed Bosnian Tarik Muharemovic a straight red card for a DOGSO offence with ten minutes to go.

Fellow Portuguese Bruno Jesus and Luciano Maia will be the linesmen.

Jonathan David of Canada celebrates with Tajon Buchanan and Cyle Larin after scoring against Qatar — Canada won their first two games before losing to Switzerland to finish second in their group (Image credit: Getty Images)

UAE's Omar Al Ali will be the fourth official, with Mohamed Al-Hammadi serving as the reserve official.

Details of the VAR crew are yet to be confirmed at time of writing.

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Steven Chicken has been working as a football writer since 2009, taking in stints with Football365 and the Huddersfield Examiner. Steven still covers Huddersfield Town home and away for his own publication, WeAreTerriers.com. Steven is a two-time nominee for Regional Journalist of the Year at the prestigious British Sports Journalism Awards, making the shortlist in 2020 and 2023.