Mexico City, June 12, 2026: Co-host Mexico made a winning start to the 2026 World Cup, defeating South Africa 2-0 in a fiery Group A opener at a packed Azteca Stadium that featured three red cards and a tense, stop-start finish.
The tournament’s opening match was overshadowed by disciplinary chaos, as South Africa were reduced to nine men and Mexico also saw a player sent off in a match that quickly descended into a physical contest rather than a fluent football display.
Mexico took an early lead through Julian Quinones, who finished a well-worked move after capitalising on a defensive error on the edge of the South African box. Raul Jimenez later doubled the advantage midway through the second half with a powerful header, effectively sealing all three points for the hosts.
South Africa’s challenge unravelled after Sphephelo Sithole was shown a straight red card early in the second half following a reckless challenge. Matters worsened when Themba Zwane was also dismissed after a VAR review for an off-the-ball incident.
Mexico’s Cesar Montes was then sent off in the closing stages for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity, adding further drama to an already ill-tempered encounter.
Despite the numerical advantage, Mexico initially struggled to convert dominance into additional goals, prompting frustration from the home crowd before Jimenez’s header eased tensions inside the iconic stadium.
The match was played in a vibrant atmosphere, with the Azteca Stadium filled with supporters celebrating the start of the expanded 48-team World Cup, jointly hosted for the first time by three countries.
An energetic opening ceremony featuring global performers set the tone for the tournament, but the football itself was frequently interrupted by fouls, VAR interventions, and disciplinary decisions.
Speaking after the match, Mexico midfielder Erik Lira described the occasion as unforgettable, saying it was a moment he would carry for the rest of his life.
In the same group, South Korea made a winning start to their campaign with a 2-1 comeback victory over the Czech Republic in Guadalajara, joining Mexico on three points at the top of Group A.
The Czechs had taken the lead through Ladislav Krejci, but South Korea responded strongly with Hwang In-beom equalising before setting up the winner for substitute Oh Hyeon-gyu.
South Korea will next face Mexico on June 18, while South Africa meet the Czech Republic on the same day as the group stage intensifies.
