Three red cards and a 2-0 win: Mexico opens the 2026 World Cup with a chaotic victory over South Africa

A historic opening goal and a dominant first half

The 2026 World Cup got underway at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City with co-hosts Mexico delivering a 2-0 victory over South Africa. The opening goal arrived in the 9th minute when Julián Quiñones finished a low drive past goalkeeper Ronwen Williams after Erik Lira had dispossessed Sphephelo Sithole on the edge of his own box. Mexico controlled the first half almost entirely, with Raúl Jiménez drawing a fine save from Williams and Quiñones striking the post from close range before the break. South Africa's only threat came when Lyle Foster glanced a header wide in the 35th minute.

Three straight red cards rewrite the record books

The match will be remembered as much for the disciplinary chaos as for the football. Three players received straight red cards, the most in a single World Cup game since the 2006 clash between Portugal and the Netherlands, which saw four ejections. Sithole was the first to go, dismissed early in the second half for a clumsy tackle from behind on Brian Gutiérrez as the Mexican winger drove toward the box. South Africa's Themba Zwane followed in the 84th minute after a VAR review for striking Roberto Alvarado in the face. In stoppage time, Mexico captain César Montes saw red for bringing down Khuliso Mudau. All three players face at least a one-match suspension.

With great pride I congratulate our Mexican national team for giving us this historic joy and showing the world the greatness of Mexico on and off the field.

Jiménez seals the win with an emotional header

Mexico's numerical advantage finally told in the 67th minute when Jiménez powered a downward header past Williams from a cross by Alvarado. The goal carried deep personal resonance: six years earlier, Jiménez had suffered a life-threatening fractured skull while playing for Wolves against Arsenal. He appeared to have tears in his eyes as he celebrated with teammates. The strike removed any lingering tension for the home crowd, who had grown restless at Mexico's failure to convert their man advantage into a second goal.

Security and protests frame the Azteca spectacle

Outside the stadium, the atmosphere was more complicated. A security zone was established around the Azteca, with only pedestrians and cyclists permitted for the final 1.6 kilometres. A large deployment of police and the National Guard secured the area, and the full lockdown was lifted roughly three and a half hours after the final whistle. Relatives of the more than 130,000 people classified as disappeared in Mexico used the global spotlight to draw attention to their cause, while a radical teachers' union also staged protests. The newspaper "ESTO" described the mood as "unusual": instead of a World Cup celebration atmosphere, the journey into the city centre produced a feeling of tension and despair.

Instead of an atmosphere like a World Cup celebration, the walk into the city centre produced a feeling of tension and despair.

The heart of the tournament beats in Mexico

The opening match underscored Mexico's central role in the 2026 tournament, which is co-hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States. Most games will be played in the US, and from the quarter-finals onward all matches will be held there, but the Azteca — a stadium Franz Beckenbauer once ranked alongside the Maracanã and Wembley — delivered an atmosphere that dwarfed the other venues. Hours before kick-off, thousands of fans in sombreros made a pilgrimage toward the stadium, and 80,824 spectators sang the Mexican national anthem in unison with singer Alejandro Fernández. The 2026 edition marks the third time Mexico has hosted the World Cup, after 1970 and 1986.

What comes next in Group A

Mexico's victory sets them up to advance from a group that also includes South Korea and the Czech Republic. South Africa's next match is against the Czech Republic, while Mexico faces South Korea in Guadalajara. The opening ceremony, headlined by Shakira and Burna Boy, was the first of three — the US and Canada will host their own ceremonies on the following day. The second Group A match between the Czech Republic and South Korea was scheduled for 3am BST in Zapopan.