The FIFA World Cup 2026 got underway with a dramatic start, as Mexico won 2-0 against South Africa in Group A, a match remembered as much for its disciplinary drama as for its football.
At Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, which is one of the top 10 stadiums in the history of world football and where the first match featured more than 80,000 fans, there were goals, controversy, and a new record as three players were shown red cards — the most in a World Cup opening match ever held. The fiery match set the tone for an unforgettable tournament right away.
Mexico had little time to assert its dominance. The hosts scored in the ninth minute when Julian Quinones capitalised on a defensive blunder by South Africa. Mexico forced a turnover, and Quinones made no mistake, scoring the first goal of the 2026 World Cup.
The early breakthrough energised the home crowd, and Javier Aguirre's side took complete control of the contest. South Africa couldn't settle into the game and found it difficult to deal with Mexico's relentless pressure and quick transitions.
Despite a few opportunities, Mexico had to wait until the second half to double its advantage. Veteran striker Raul Jimenez rose highest in the 67th minute to head home a perfectly delivered cross, sending the Azteca faithful into celebration and putting the result beyond doubt.
But the most important storyline of the match was a series of disciplinary incidents.
South Africa's problems began just after halftime when midfielder Sphephelo Sithole was given a straight red card for bringing down Mexico's Brian Gutierrez as he raced toward the goal. The dismissal left South Africa with ten men and severely damaged their hopes of recovering.
Things went from bad to worse for the African side in the 84th minute. After a VAR review, Themba Zwane was sent off for violent conduct after hitting a Mexican player off the ball. South Africa was reduced to nine men and had no other option than to fight to avoid a further defeat.
Mexico’s night wasn’t entirely flawless. The defender Cesar Montes received a straight red card for a reckless challenge deep into stoppage time, which also meant that the hosts would finish the match with ten men.
The three dismissals created a unique moment in World Cup history. Never before had a World Cup opening match featured three red cards, and remarkably, Qatar’s 2022 tournament had only four red cards in total across all 64 matches. The chaotic scene also came close to matching the all-time World Cup record of four red cards in a match, which was set during the Portugal vs Netherlands match in 2006.
For Mexico, the result is a great start to their home World Cup campaign. Three points have been secured, and with momentum on El Tri's side, they can now turn their attention to the next game in Group A against South Korea. South Africa will have a long way to go and will have to regroup before a crucial match with the Czech Republic.
As the curtain opened on the biggest World Cup in history with 48 teams from North America, Mexico provided the tournament with excitement, controversy, and a night of football drama that fans will be talking about for years to come.
