FIFA World Cup 2026 Opening Match — Mexico Beat South Africa 2-0 in Three Red Card Thriller

The 2026 FIFA World Cup has officially begun, and it wasted no time delivering drama. Co-hosts Mexico marked the occasion with a 2-0 victory over South Africa in the opener at the iconic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, a match that will be remembered as much for its chaos as its goals.

An Opening Ceremony to Remember

Before a ball was kicked, Shakira, Maná, Andrea Bocelli and a surprise appearance by Salma Hayek lit up the opening ceremony. Shakira performed “Dai Dai,” the tournament’s official song with Burna Boy, in her fourth performance at a World Cup opening ceremony. The atmosphere inside the Azteca was electric from the very first minute.

Mexico Strike Early

Mexico did not make the home crowd wait long. Colombian dual national Julián Quiñones, the former Club América winger who made his debut for the Mexican national team in 2023, opened the scoring to ease the nerves of 80,000 fans packed into the historic stadium.

The goal gave Mexico control of the match and set the tone for what was to come.

FIFA World Cup 2026 Opening Match-Three Red Cards

The match will go down in World Cup history for all the wrong reasons — or the right ones, depending on your taste for chaos. In the 49th minute, Mexican midfielder Brian Gutierrez was through on goal when he was taken down from behind by South Africa’s Sphephelo “Yaya” Sithole, earning a straight red card. Eighteen minutes later, Raúl Jiménez doubled Mexico’s lead with a free header. South Africa’s day went from bad to worse in the 84th minute when substitute Themba Zwane was sent off after VAR showed he had struck Mexico winger Roberto Alvarado. Mexico’s captain César Montes was also shown a straight red card for a hard tackle on South Africa’s Khuliso Mudau.

The three red cards are the most ever shown in a World Cup opening match, and the first time a World Cup game has seen three or more red cards since the infamous “Battle of Nuremberg” between Portugal and Netherlands in 2006.

Jiménez Writes His Name Into History

The emotional highlight of the match belonged to Raúl Jiménez. With his 46th international goal and his first in three World Cups, Jiménez tied Jared Borgetti for second place in Mexico’s all-time scoring list. He is six goals shy of leader Javier “Chicharito” Hernández. The 35-year-old striker, who suffered a serious skull fracture in 2020 that threatened to end his career, was in tears after the goal — a moment that moved even neutral viewers.

History Made at the Azteca

It was Mexico’s eighth time playing in the opening match of a World Cup and their first ever win in an opener, having previously lost five and drawn two — including against then-host South Africa at the 2010 World Cup. The Azteca also became the first stadium in history to host three FIFA World Cups.

What Happens Next

Mexico will face South Korea in Guadalajara on June 18 in their second Group A match. South Africa, now under pressure after starting with a defeat and two red card suspensions, must regroup quickly for their next fixture.

With goals from Quiñones and Jiménez, El Tri started on the right foot with a 2-0 win over a nine-man South Africa — sending a message to the rest of the 48-team tournament that the co-hosts mean business on home soil.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is officially underway. And if the opening game is anything to go by, this tournament will not disappoint.

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