Hosts Mexico began their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign with a commanding 2-0 victory over South Africa in a dramatic opening match that produced three red cards and plenty of controversy.
Julián Quiñones opened the scoring in the seventh minute, netting the first goal of the tournament and giving the hosts an early advantage at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.
Raúl Jiménez doubled Mexico’s lead in the 67th minute to secure all three points and send Mexico to the top of Group A, which also includes South Korea and the Czech Republic.
The match took a heated turn in the second half, with South African defender Yaya Sithole receiving the tournament’s first red card in the 54th minute for denying a clear goal-scoring opportunity.
South Africa’s woes deepened in the 84th minute when Themba Zwane was shown a straight red card for punching a Mexican player during an off-the-ball incident.
Mexico were also reduced to 10 men late in the game after César Montes was sent off in the 90th minute for a foul that denied South Africa a goal-scoring opportunity, bringing the total number of red cards in the tournament opener to three.
Beyond the action on the pitch, the match generated significant discussion on social media, with many Africans expressing support for Mexico.
Some online commentators linked the show of solidarity to ongoing anti-migrant sentiments and attacks reported in South Africa, where foreign nationals have periodically faced hostility and calls to leave the country.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup, which kicked off on June 11, is being jointly hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States.
