Welcome to TNIE's live coverage of Day 8 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Day 8 action will see Czechia take on South Africa in their second Group A fixture, followed by Switzerland's second Group B match against Bosnia and Herzegovina. Canada will then face Qatar in the other Group B encounter before co-hosts Mexico round off the day's action with a Group A clash against South Korea.
Mexico and South Korea will aim to punch their ticket to the World Cup knockout rounds on Thursday when they meet in Guadalajara knowing a win will guarantee a last 32 berth.
Below are Day 8's fixtures, with all times in IST:
Czechia vs South Africa – (9:30 pm)
Switzerland vs Bosnia and Herzegovina – (12:30 am)
Canada vs Qatar – (3:30 am)
Mexico vs South Korea – (6:30 am)
Ivory Coast striker Elye Wahi, who is being investigated into suspected match-fixing, has not been authorized to travel to Canada for his team’s next World Cup match against Germany, the Ivorian soccer federation said on Thursday.
Ivory Coast faces Germany on Saturday in Toronto.
The federation said Wahi will not be able to travel with the squad because “the necessary administrative authorizations for his entry into Canadian territory could not be obtained at this stage.”
Canada captain Alphonso Davies will be available to play on Thursday against Qatar after he missed his team's World Cup opener while recovering from a hamstring injury, coach Jesse Marsch said.
The left back was injured last month while playing for Bayern Munich in the Champions League semifinals.
In an open practice earlier this week, Davies was limited in training and was still in the return-to-play protocol.
“He's been in training this week, and he'll be available tomorrow, and we'll see how the match goes and then make a decision on how we would choose to use him,” March said Wednesday evening.
Davies has not played for Canada since March 2025, when he tore an ACL in the CONCACAF Nations League finals. He has 15 goals in 58 international appearances.
Mexico and South Korea will aim to punch their ticket to the World Cup knockout rounds on Thursday when they meet in Guadalajara knowing a win will guarantee a last 32 berth.
The Group A rivals head into the fixture at the Estadio Akron fresh from respective victories over South Africa and the Czech Republic in their opening games last week.
Co-hosts Mexico eased past a poor South Africa in their opening game last week but are bracing for a tougher test against a South Korean side studded with quality.
"We have to be very wary of the opponent's attacking transitions," Mexico coach Javier Aguirre said.
"When we are attacking, we can't let our guard down; if there are two Koreans up front, there need to be three Mexicans."