Mexico began their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign with a 2-0 victory over South Africa in a dramatic opening match on Thursday that produced three red cards and plenty of controversy. A packed Mexico City Stadium witnessed Julián Quiñones score the first goal of the tournament before veteran striker Raúl Jiménez sealed the win in the second half. The result gave Mexico the first three points in Group A and an ideal start to a World Cup they are co-hosting with the United States and Canada.
Early dominance and first goal
Mexico took control early and were rewarded in the ninth minute when Quiñones found the net to become the first goalscorer of the Mundial. The forward finished calmly after South Africa failed to deal with sustained pressure from the hosts. The early goal set the tone for a match that would see Mexico dominate possession and create several chances.
Red cards and controversy
South Africa struggled to create clear chances and saw their task become much harder shortly after halftime when Yaya Sithole was sent off in the 49th minute. Playing with a numerical advantage, Mexico continued to push forward and doubled their lead in the 67th minute. Roberto Alvarado delivered a precise cross that Jiménez headed home from close range to make it 2-0.
The match then descended into a disciplinary battle. Substitute Themba Zwane was initially shown a yellow card before a VAR review upgraded the punishment to a red card for violent conduct in the 84th minute, reducing South Africa to nine men. Mexico also finished with 10 players after César Montes received a straight red card deep into stoppage time.
According to Opta statistics, South Africa became the first team to receive two red cards in a FIFA World Cup match since Portugal and the Netherlands each had two players sent off during their infamous Round of 16 clash at the 2006 World Cup in Germany. Remarkably, the tournament opener produced three red cards. By comparison, only four red cards were shown across all 64 matches at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
Victory for Mexico
For Mexico, however, the main takeaway was victory as they launched their home World Cup campaign in style. The win puts them top of Group A and gives them momentum heading into their next match. Fans celebrated the strong performance, which showcased the team's attacking prowess and resilience despite the late red card.
