Why the CanMNT needs the best version of Tajon Buchanan in the knockout stages of the 2026 World Cup

It’s been a quiet start to the 2026 World Cup for Tajon Buchanan. 

Despite starting all three of the CanMNT’s three group stage games, the Villarreal CF winger has yet to light up the tournament the way many would’ve expected him to. Not only is he without a goal or an assist through three games, but he’s also not been as dynamic or dangerous as he can be at his best. 

That’s a worry for Canada, because on his day, Buchanan can be an extremely effective contributor to this team’s attack. There’s a reason why he’s generated eight goals and eight assists across 63 appearances for Canada, as he knows how to step up with timely goal contributions for his team when they’ve needed him the most.

And right now, this Canadian side needs him. As they get set for their first-ever knockout game at a men’s World Cup, coming against South Africa in the Round of 32 on Sunday, June 28th, in Los Angeles, Canada is hoping that the best version of Buchanan is with them in California. 

Let’s just say that it’d be fitting that a match played in Hollywood could be the game where one of Canada’s stars gets back to his very best. 

Tajon Buchanan previews #CanMNT vs. South Africa clash 🎙️

"The goal was to make it out of the group – we've never done that before. We're all super proud about that... I think we can do special things" pic.twitter.com/eoyAPcSu1r

— OneSoccer (@onesoccer) June 26, 2026

To that point, though, where has Buchanan struggled during this tournament for Canada? 

Namely, the big one has been his inability to create chances in the final third, both for himself and others. Typically, that’s an area of strength for Buchanan, who is lively in and around the box even during periods where he’s not actually earning goal contributions.

Across the three games he’s played this tournament, he’s taken four shots (worth 0.6 xG) and created three chances (worth 0.35 xA) - and all four of those shots and two of those chances came in Canada’s 6-0 drubbing of Qatar in their second group stage game, where they played a large chunk of the match with two extra players after a pair of Qatari red cards. That’s not to discount Buchanan’s performance in that game, as he drew one of those red cards and played a big role in Canada’s second goal, but it does show that Buchanan hasn’t otherwise been as impactful as hoped in the other matches (which are the games where Canada could’ve used his skills, given that they drew one and lost another).

Here's Buchanan's shot map from this tournament, showing that he hasn't been as dangerous there as hoped (FotMob)

For context, during the 2022 World Cup, where Buchanan was arguably Canada’s breakout player, he took five shots (worth 0.94 xG) and created four chances (worth 0.54 xA), while also earning an assist on Canada’s first-ever goal at a men’s World Cup - and that was despite playing much better opposition, as Canada faced off against a 2nd-ranked Belgium, 12th-ranked Croatia and 22nd-ranked Morocco in that tournament. 

By comparison, they’ve faced off against 19th-ranked Switzerland, 56th-ranked Qatar and 64th-ranked Bosnia & Herzegovina at this World Cup, which has made it even more surprising that Buchanan hasn’t been able to influence games in the same way as he did three years ago. 

Yet, that just shows why Canada will be hoping that Buchanan can step up as they begin their journey through the knockout stages. 

GOAL🇨🇦

The #CanMNT are back in this game, as Jonathan David converts the PK won by Tajon Buchanan to cut Iceland's lead to 2-1

🔴 Watch LIVE on OneSoccer and TSN pic.twitter.com/oG3XTltrc5

— OneSoccer (@onesoccer) March 28, 2026

With Alphonso Davies still not 100% available as he returns from a muscle issue, Ismaël Koné out for the rest of this tournament after breaking his leg, and Stephen Eustáquio and Moïse Bombito not at 100% (even if available to start), it can be argued that Buchanan is Canada’s most important player right now, along with Jonathan David. 

And given that someone like David is going to need help from the players around him to provide him the service he needs to be impactful, as he was when he scored a hat trick against Qatar, that further shows why Canada will be looking for Buchanan to step up in a big way. 

Plus, as mentioned earlier, stepping up doesn’t mean that Buchanan has to score a goal or provide an assist, either, even if Canada would certainly welcome that. At his best, he can impact the game in other ways beyond that, such as with his dribbling - by that measure, it’s been a surprise to see that he’s only completed four dribbles this World Cup, as that can sometimes be the number of dribbles he completes across an entire game when he’s in form. 

You add in that he’s only completed three crosses (21.4% of his attempts), taken 14 touches in the box (with 13 of them coming against Qatar) and won just eight fouls, those are all things that Canada would like him to do more of against South Africa, even if he doesn’t score or generate an assist. 

Against a South Africa team that is going to sit back in a compact mid block, clogging up space centrally, the space for Canada to attack will be out wide. Because of that, they’ll need their wingers to be dynamic, direct and dangerous, helping stretch South Africa’s defence out of shape to create any sort of space centrally. 

That’s where Buchanan can step up, as his dribbling ability could be key, in particular. When facing a team that is defending in a compact block, it can go a long way towards breaking them down to have players who can dribble and win individual matchups with the ball at their feet, which can destabilize a team’s defensive block and open up space to attack into. 

So far this World Cup, Buchanan hasn’t been able to provide that sort of impact on the flanks, and that’s hurt Canada’s ability to generate attacks. That’s reflected in the fact that they’ve actually generated the most crosses of any team at the World Cup (as of writing), but have only completed just 22.9% of those crosses. 

On the plus side, that Canada has done well to generate volume isn’t a bad thing from Buchanan’s perspective - they should be able to put him in good areas on the pitch, with the pressure being on him to sharpen up his final product. It shows that while he’s been quiet this tournament, it’s not as if he’s being starved of the service he needs to be dangerous (he’s averaging 50 touches per 90 minutes, after all).

Plus, it can’t be forgotten that, as mentioned earlier, Buchanan always seems to thrive on a stage like this. Of his eight goals and eight assists that he’s earned for Canada, seven goals and seven assists have been in competitive games, as he only has one goal and one assist across 15 friendlies. 

Consistently, Buchanan has shown that these are the games that seem to bring the best version out of him, and Canada would love it if that could continue in this match. 

Having last scored or assisted for Canada on June 24th of last year, coming in the group stages of the 2025 Gold Cup, Buchanan is overdue for a breakout performance, so why not have it in Canada’s biggest men’s World Cup game ever? 

GOAL 🇨🇦🇨🇦

It's a second quick goal for the #CanMNT as Tajon Buchanan doubles the lead moments after the opener 🔥

🔴 Watch LIVE on OneSoccer pic.twitter.com/YwZaZW6AN8

— OneSoccer (@onesoccer) June 25, 2025

After having used the last World Cup as his stage to show what he was capable of, eventually earning a move to Italian giants Inter Milan off the back of what he did at that tournament, he’s still looking for his standout moment this summer. 

And in a World Cup that has been dominated by performances from stars, Canada will hope Buchanan can follow in their footsteps, and no better time than this clash against South Africa. 

If Buchanan can step up and put in a big showing that helps win Canada their first-ever men’s World Cup knockout match, his quiet start to the tournament will quickly be forgotten, showing why he’ll be leaned on heavily in this clash.