As Canada’s players and staff huddled on the pitch to savour reaching the last 16 for the first time, the overhead Spidercam and the cameras belonging to the host broadcaster were the only outsiders present for Jesse Marsch’s impassioned victory speech. “You guys are Canadian heroes today, Canadian heroes for the future children of this country who play this sport,” he said, wagging his right index finger at different squad members, before a series of whoops, cheers and applause.

If that was a sacred, special moment, then so was the sight of Marsch kissing the Canada crest on his grey zip-top before embracing Ismaël Koné, who took to the field to join the celebrations on crutches after surgery on a broken leg.

After a lap of the pitch with his players, Marsch kept wandering around the turf, spreading his arms as wide as possible as if to worship the scene of Canada’s greatest day in this sport.

Marsch, born in Wisconsin, was part of the US staff at the 2010 World Cup but sang every word of O Canada before kick-off and, having leant into his role, is growing popular himself with Canadians after this achievement. They will play the winner of Morocco v Netherlands in Houston on Friday – Marsch is flying to Monterrey to watch Monday’s match between the sides.

“Look, I am American and I’m proud to be American but I do think that the ideals and the characteristics of Canadian people fit me really well,” he said.

“They value kindness, generosity and it’s a country that is very welcoming to outsiders. They appreciate you for the things you do, more than the things you say. Sometimes I know Americans get a certain rap for being arrogant, boisterous, for being outwardly vocal, and I know that in many ways that does describe me, or at least people love to describe me that way.” Of his post-match speech, he added: “People like to say it’s performative and, frankly, I don’t give a shit what people have to say.”

The match-winning moment came courtesy of Stephen Eustáquio, who until Alphonso Davies pulled on the captain’s armband after entering on 75 minutes for his first appearance at this tournament, had deputised as Canada’s on-field leader.

Sixty-four seconds into at least five minutes of second-half stoppage time, Eustáquio chested a South Africa clearance on the edge of the box and struck a sweet right-foot shot with his laces, the ball thudding into the bottom corner.

It was also fitting, Marsch said, that Eustáquio, who played for Los Angeles FC last season, was the player to drag Canada over the line. “I think from somewhere his parents are looking down,” Marsch said, alluding to the death of Eustáquio’s mother, Esmeralda, from brain cancer in 2023 and his father, Armando, after a heart attack a year later. “I couldn’t think of a more deserving human being.”

For both teams, being here, in the knockout stage of a World Cup, was a groundbreaking moment worth celebrating.

South Africa’s head coach, Hugo Broos, reiterated as much after the game but stopped short of confirming this defeat would mark the end of his five-year tenure. “It is my last World Cup, that is for sure,” the 74-year-old said with a chuckle.

“But what will happen in the next days and weeks also depends a little bit on how South Africa sees the future. It is not clever to make decisions when you are disappointed. I will see in the next days what I will do. Nobody expected, they only hoped that we would be in the second round. It would have been a little miracle if we made it to the third round.”

At what point would Marsch roll the dice with Davies? Marsch compared the way he has been managing the Bayern Munich full-back with how he would a Ferrari, after a hamstring injury prevented Davies from being anything more than a cheerleader of sorts in the group stage.

It was here, too, in March 2025, where he sustained an anterior cruciate ligament injury that kept him out for eight months. Davies said the scenes in Toronto, where he watched as Canada hosted Bosnia and Herzegovina in their opener brought tears to his eyes, but it was Eustáquio who brought the house down here.

A Canada goal was undoubtedly deserved but for so long it was impossible to shake the sense that the game was heading for extra time, South Africa seemingly content to play the long game, showing little ambition. South Africa’s goalkeeper, Ronwen Williams, was frequently booed for retaining possession and their sole shot on target came after five minutes, Teboho Mokoena taking aim from 30 yards. “We’re going to be ready to throw everything at a giant,” Marsch said. “The guys knew this was a massive opportunity and wanted to seize it. It took 92 minutes, but we got there.”