Press reviews of the first game
“What a start to the World Cup, absolutely crazy!”
June 12, 2026 – 1:19 a.mReading time: 2 minutes
World Cup hosts Mexico celebrate a comfortable win against South Africa in the opening game of the tournament. An overview of the international press reviews.
The start of the World Cup was a spectacle: Mexico’s win against South Africa not only resulted in two goals for the hosts, but also a total of three red cards.
Internationally, the game was viewed differently by the press. An overview:
The newspaper “El Universal”. Mexico writes: “The Mexican national team opened the 2026 World Cup with a lackluster victory. But the stadium in Mexico City remembered its past and that not so long ago it was the legendary Aztec Stadium. The venue, which hosted a World Cup for the third time that afternoon, shook like it hadn’t in a long time.”
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In the enemy’s country South Africa comments “Kickoff”: “More red cards than goals – Bafana Bafana starts with a disappointing performance.”
The “Gazzetta dello Sport”. Italy says: “Two goals, two red cards – and no problem for Aguirre’s Mexicans. South Africa is struggling and appears to be clearly inferior technically and tactically.”
The sheet “AS” out Spain writes: “The beautiful, beloved and victorious Mexico! South Africa could do nothing to counter the fighting spirit, the will to win and the attractive football of the hosts.”
“Master in his own house”
The Spanish newspaper “Marca” is also full of praise for the Mexican team: “¡Mexico, que lindo! – Mexico, how beautiful! What a start to the World Cup, absolutely crazy! A fantastic debut for Mexico, with goals from Quiñones and Raúl Jiménez in a historic game and with three dismissals, THREE!”
In France writes the sports newspaper “L’Equipe”: “Mexico is the master of its own house. After Julián Quiñones, the top scorer in the Saudi Pro League this season, quickly took the lead, Mexico dominated the game and never really came into trouble.”
In the USA comments the magazine “USA Today”: “Mexico overwhelms South Africa in the flood of red cards at the start of the World Cup. Mexico has started the 2026 World Cup exactly as it had hoped.”
“Red Madness”
In the Switzerland writes the tabloid “Blick”: “Two goals, three red cards and a goalscorer who bursts into tears. The World Cup opening game between Mexico and South Africa ends with the better end for the hosts. But there is no hand of God in the Mexicans’ opening game against South Africa. And not a goal of the century either. But very, very big emotions. When Raúl Jiménez scores the redemptive second goal for his Mexicans, he bursts into tears, points his arm to the sky, pays homage to his dad Don, who died in March.”
In England The newspaper “The Sun” commented on the start of the World Cup as follows: “Three dismissals in the completely crazy opening game of the World Cup – England is immediately warned by possible rivals. The World Cup began with red madness. And an early warning for England about a possible opponent in the round of 16.”