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The 2026 World Cup is up and running, and the hosts could hardly have asked for a more dramatic start to their campaign. Mexico beat a limited South Africa side 2-0 in the tournament's opening match at the Estadio Azteca, but the scoreline only tells half the story: three red cards turned the curtain-raiser into one of the most eventful opening fixtures the competition has ever seen. You can relive every twist of the result on our Mexico vs South Africa page.
A Scrappy Opener Breaks the Deadlock
For all the noise inside a packed Azteca, the first goal of the tournament owed plenty to a South African mistake. Goalkeeper Ronwen Williams opted for a short pass when a long clearance was the safer choice, the move broke down, and Julián Quiñones pounced to fire home through the keeper's legs. It was a messy way to open the World Cup, but it gave El Tri the early lift their supporters were craving.
That breakthrough should have settled Mexico, yet the hosts struggled to add to their lead before the break. Quiñones rattled the post and a string of further chances came and went, leaving the contest closer than the balance of play deserved.
The Turning Point: South Africa Down to Ten
The decisive moment after half-time came when South Africa's Sphephelo Sithole was shown a red card. Brian Gutiérrez had drifted away from his marker and burst in behind, and Sithole's clumsy intervention left the referee with little choice. The defender protested that the punishment was harsh, but the contact was enough, and South Africa were reduced to ten men.
Even with the extra man, Mexico were unable to turn their numerical advantage into goals, and the home crowd began to make their frustration heard. As so often happens, the breakthrough arrived just as the grumbling grew loudest.
Jiménez Seals It with an Emotional Header
Step forward Raúl Jiménez. The Mexico striker — who has just sealed an emotional return to Wolverhampton Wanderers, the Championship side where he first made his name as a Premier League star, after three seasons at Fulham — rose to meet a cross and powered home a fine header to make it 2-0. The veteran forward was visibly emotional after the goal, a moment that flipped the mood of the stadium and effectively put the result beyond doubt.
A Historic Set of Dismissals
Things only got worse for South Africa from there. Following a VAR review, the referee was sent to the monitor and ruled that Themba Zwane had to go for striking an opponent, leaving South Africa to finish with just nine men. In an era where every camera angle is scrutinised, it was a needless way to compound an already difficult night.
That second dismissal carried a historical footnote: South Africa became the first team to pick up multiple red cards in a single World Cup match since 2006 — the infamous "Battle of Nuremberg" between the Netherlands and Portugal.
The hosts were not entirely spared either. In the closing stages, Mexico defender César Montes was also sent off for a heavy challenge, a decision that looked stern given there was no obvious goalscoring opportunity at the time. Mexico, three red cards and all, were happy enough to bank the points.
What's Next for Mexico in Group A
This was not a vintage performance, and South Africa may yet prove to be the weakest side in Group A, but three points is exactly the start Mexico wanted on home soil. Attention now turns to a trickier examination against South Korea, with the hosts then closing out the group stage against Czechia.
If you want to follow El Tri's run in person, secure your seats early for Mexico vs South Korea and the final group game against Czechia vs Mexico — demand for the host nation's fixtures is always high.
Don't Miss a Moment of World Cup 2026
From the group stage right through to the showpiece, every match of the tournament is set to be unforgettable. Browse all available fixtures on our World Cup 2026 tickets page, and start planning ahead for the biggest game of all with World Cup Final tickets at MetLife Stadium on July 19.
