Co-host Mexico is the first winner of the 2026 World Cup. In a long, tough opening game, South Africa was completely overwhelmed and, in addition to the well-deserved 0-2 (0-1) defeat, also received two dismissals.
Julián Quinones scored the first goal of the tournament in the 9th minute, Raúl Jiménez added the second goal in the 57th minute. For the South Africans, Yaya Sithole was shown a red card in the 49th minute after an emergency stop, while Themba Zwane was also sent off the field in the 84th minute after video evidence of an assault. In stoppage time, a third player, Mexico’s César Montes, had to leave the field early. Quinones said after the game: “I’m very happy and emotional because I scored the first goal. The stadium is spectacular, it was full. The fans were behind us from the first minute. It was crucial that we got the first three points.”
The three dismissals were a record for an opening game – there had previously been two red cards 36 years ago: Cameroon sensationally won 1-0 against Argentina in 1990 despite the two dismissals.
Jiménez misses the first big chance
But this time there was no sensation. After a lot of music, dancing and lots of smoke, referee Wilton Sampaio from Brazil finally let the ball roll a good five minutes late. After another five minutes, the 2026 World Cup tournament had its first big chance. On the right flank, defender Israel Reyes, who had moved up, ran behind the South African defense, passed perfectly towards the penalty spot, where Jiménez rushed up and shot with a full shot – but keeper Ronwen Williams still got a hand on the ball.
Goalkeeper Ronwen Williams clears the ball
Horror blunder by Yaya Sithole
As a result, South Africa managed to relieve the pressure somewhat, bridging the midfield quickly, but lacking precision in the final line. When trying to playfully combine from defense to forward, Yaya Sithole made a terrible mistake. The central midfielder from “Bafana Bafana” miserably missed the ball in his own penalty area, Quinones thanked him and shot through Williams’ legs for the first goal of the tournament.
This double mishap was initially difficult for the South Africans’ nerves to process. They exaggerated the toughness of the duels several times before Sampaio drew the first yellow card of the World Cup after a foul by Teboho Mokoena. Hugo Broos’ team’s presentation remained playful and tough. Only a slight catching error by Mexico goalkeeper Raúl Rangel gave the South African minority in the Aztec Stadium a brief hope – but Lyle Foster didn’t even get a shot on goal. The score was 6-0 for Mexico after 37 minutes before a header from Foster just wide of the right post was the first serious attempt.
Mexico’s Roberto Alvarado has space – Mbekezeli Mbokazi is too far away from the man
Quinones could have added more, Sithole sees red
The Mexicans remained significantly more dangerous, even if they took their foot off the gas a little between the 20th and 35th minutes. In particular, Quinones, who was top scorer in the Saudi Arabian league (33 goals for Al-Qadsiah, five more than Cristiano Ronaldo), was unable to get South Africa’s defense under control at all. With a long-range shot into the side netting and a low finish to the right post (42nd), the right winger could have made a good impression in the fight for the Golden Shoe.
At halftime, Mexico only had to accept one accusation: the game should have already been decided. But South Africa did everything they could to take the tension out of the game immediately after the restart: keeper Williams played the ball unchallenged into the legs of Brian Gutiérrez, who was too surprised to accept the gift. Three minutes later, Gutiérrez started again centrally, Yaya Sithole, the last defender, ran over him rather clumsily – red after a good 48 minutes was the logical consequence.
Yaya Sithole sees the red card
14:3 shots on goal after an hour
The already one-sided game lost even more tension as a result. However, the administration mode that their team initially switched to after being sent off quickly got on the nerves of the Mexican fans – there were even whistles despite the lead. Coach Javier Aguirre reacted on the sideline. He used many gestures to drive his protégés forward and also made a bold statement himself by subbing in the 17-year-old prodigy Gilberto Mora.
A few seconds later the game was decided. From the right, Roberto Alvarado hit a brilliant cross to the back post, Jiménez rose up and headed, completely unchallenged, into the near corner. After that, the South Africans’ resistance completely weakened. By the 84th minute at the latest, it was all about damage limitation when Zwane, the second South African, was sent off with a red card: The VAR had ordered Sampaio to the sidelines, who then made a rather long, difficult-to-understand explanation: Only when the words “Red Card” were said could everyone follow what was happening again.
What was impressive, however, was that in stoppage time they launched another dangerous counterattack with nine men, which Montes stopped with a rude foul. Sampaio also decided on the emergency brake here – the opening game had his third expulsion.
South Korea and the Czech Republic are the next opponents
The Mexicans will continue against South Korea on June 19th (3 a.m. CEST) in the Guadalajara Stadium in Zapopan. South Africa meets the Czech Republic the day before (6 p.m. CEST) in the Atlanta Stadium.