Co-hosts Mexico began their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign on a winning note, defeating South Africa 2-0 in a Group A opener overshadowed by disciplinary issues that saw three players sent off.
Backed by a capacity crowd at the Mexico City Stadium, the hosts took control early as Julián Quiñones capitalised on a defensive error to open the scoring in the ninth minute.
South Africa’s hopes of staging a comeback suffered a significant blow shortly after halftime when Yaya Sithole received a straight red card for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity, becoming the first player to be sent off at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Mexico’s Raúl Jiménez celebrates after scoring in the 2-0 victory over South Africa during the opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
With the numerical advantage, Mexico doubled their lead in the 67th minute through veteran striker Raúl Jiménez, who headed home Roberto Alvarado’s cross to score his first-ever goal at a FIFA World Cup finals tournament.
The match became increasingly ill-tempered in the closing stages. South Africa were reduced to nine men when Themba Zwane was dismissed for striking an opponent, while Mexico also ended the game with 10 players after César Montes received a late red card for a reckless challenge in stoppage time.
Mexico players celebrate a goal during their 2-0 win over South Africa in the 2026 FIFA World Cup opening match.
Despite the late setback, Mexico comfortably secured all three points and an early advantage in Group A. Quiñones nearly added a second goal before halftime when his first-time effort struck the post.
The encounter will be remembered as one of the most ill-disciplined opening matches in World Cup history, with three red cards overshadowing the football and raising concerns over player discipline at the tournament.
The victory places Mexico in a strong position heading into their next group fixture, while South Africa face mounting pressure to recover quickly and revive their campaign.
