Mexico Beat South Africa 2-0 in Fiery World Cup 2026 Opener

MEXICO CITY, June 11 — Co-hosts Mexico launched their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign with a convincing 2-0 victory over South Africa in a heated opening match at the iconic Azteca Stadium on Thursday.

While the result delighted the home crowd, the match will be remembered as much for its three red cards as for Mexico’s dominant performance in the tournament's first fixture.

Julian Quinones gave Mexico the perfect start with an early goal, setting the tone for a match largely controlled by the hosts. Veteran striker Raul Jimenez doubled the lead midway through the second half with a powerful header, securing all three points for Javier Aguirre’s side.

South Africa’s hopes of mounting a comeback suffered a major blow shortly after halftime when midfielder Sphephelo Sithole was sent off for a reckless challenge. The visitors were reduced to nine men later in the match when Themba Zwane received a red card following a VAR review. Mexico also finished with 10 players after Cesar Montes was dismissed in stoppage time for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity.

Despite the comfortable victory, Mexico head coach Javier Aguirre was not fully satisfied with his team’s display.

"This was a 4-0 match. We didn't play well enough, but people are happy," Aguirre told reporters. "It's the start of the World Cup. We've put the nerves behind us, earned three points and now we're focused on what's next."

The match marked several historic milestones for the World Cup. The 2026 tournament is the first to feature 48 teams and the first to be jointly hosted by three countries. It also began at the Azteca Stadium, which became the first venue in history to host three World Cup opening matches.

Mexico's victory was also significant as it marked the country's first-ever win in a World Cup opener after seven previous attempts.

The opening ceremony featured performances by global music stars Shakira and Burna Boy, adding to the festive atmosphere inside the packed stadium.

Mexico will next face South Korea in Guadalajara on June 18, while South Africa will take on the Czech Republic in Atlanta as Group A action continues.