Stephen Eustaquio’s late goal sends Canada into World Cup last 16
The 29-year-old midfielder scored in stoppage time against South Africa, taking Canada into the World Cup round of 16 for the first time.
By Sofia Marchetti · World Affairs Correspondent
3 min read
Stephen Eustaquio scored in stoppage time Sunday to give Canada a 1-0 win over South Africa at Los Angeles Stadium, according to Al Jazeera. The goal sent Canada into the World Cup round of 16 for the first time and put the 29-year-old midfielder at the center of the country’s tournament run.
Al Jazeera reported that Eustaquio received the ball near the edge of South Africa’s penalty area with the match still scoreless, then beat goalkeeper Ronwen Williams. The match was the first knockout-round game of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Eustaquio was serving as Canada’s stand-in captain because Alphonso Davies was off the pitch with an injury, according to Al Jazeera. After the match, he said Canada had fought for the result and wanted to dedicate the win to Canadians.
“We kept believing and kept pushing. We couldn’t imagine it any other way,” Eustaquio said after the game, according to Al Jazeera. He described the strike as a collective moment, saying he felt “everybody shot with me.”
Canadian roots, Portuguese upbringing
Eustaquio was born in Leamington, Ontario, to Portuguese parents, Al Jazeera reported. He started playing football at age four and spent parts of his youth in both Canada and Portugal.
His early football began with Leamington Minor Soccer before his family moved to Portugal, according to Al Jazeera. He and his older brother, Mauro, played at club level there, and Stephen later signed with Portuguese second-tier side Leixoes in 2017.
Al Jazeera reported that he moved to GD Chaves in 2018, then joined Cruz Azul in Mexico’s Liga MX the following year. He later went on loan to Pacos de Ferreira, where he made his debut in January 2020.
He made his European debut in August 2020 and scored in a 4-0 win over Larne in the UEFA Europa Conference League, according to Al Jazeera. Eustaquio joined Porto on loan in January 2022, and the Portuguese club bought him that May.
His latest club move came in February 2026, when he joined Major League Soccer side Los Angeles FC on a four-month loan with an option to sign, Al Jazeera reported.
Family losses and a growing Canada role
Eustaquio has dealt with the deaths of both parents in recent years. Al Jazeera reported that his mother, Esmeralda, died of brain cancer during a Porto home match against Santa Clara in April 2023, and his father died of a sudden heart attack a year later.
Shortly before his father’s death, Eustaquio and his girlfriend, Constanta, welcomed a daughter, Benedita, according to Al Jazeera. After the South Africa match, Eustaquio said everything he does is for his family, including his parents, girlfriend, daughter, brother and friends back home.
In a September 2024 interview with Sportsnet Canada cited by Al Jazeera, Mauro Eustaquio said he and Stephen had chosen to live with their grief while honoring their parents. “Our parents… they gave us wings. So now it’s up to us to fly,” Mauro said.
Internationally, Eustaquio first represented Canada at youth level, including the 2012 AGS Cup, according to Al Jazeera. He also played for Portugal’s under-21 team in 2019 UEFA European Championship qualifying before committing to Canada at senior level in February 2019.
Al Jazeera reported that Eustaquio earned his first senior Canada call-up that October for a CONCACAF Nations League match. He played at the 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup, where he scored his first international goal, and also featured for Canada at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and the 2023 CONCACAF Nations League final.
Sunday’s winner was his sixth goal for Canada in his 61st appearance, according to Al Jazeera. For Canada, one swing of his right foot turned a tight knockout match into a landmark World Cup result.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.