Mexico Dominates South Africa in 2026 World Cup Opener Amid Red Cards and Comebacks

The Athletic is providing live coverage of the match between South Korea and the Czech Republic as part of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Mexico showcased their dominance against South Africa with a 2-0 victory in the tournament’s opening match in Mexico City. The chaotic start saw three players sent off. This match alone equaled nearly the total number of red cards across the entire 2022 World Cup in Qatar, which had just four.

Match Highlights

Julián Quiñones opened the scoring for the co-hosts in the ninth minute with a shot that slipped through the legs of South Africa’s goalkeeper, Ronwen Williams. Later, Raúl Jiménez, who courageously returned to football after a severe skull fracture nearly six years ago, doubled Mexico’s lead in the 67th minute.

South Africa’s Sphephelo Sithole faced the first dismissal in the opening game of a World Cup since Bolivia’s Marco Etcheverry against Germany in 1994. Sithole was sent off shortly after half-time, followed by his teammate Themba Zwane, who clashed with a Mexico player in the 84th minute. Mexico’s captain, Cesar Montes, was also shown a red card for tackling Khuliso Mudau in the final stages of the game.

Expert Analysis on Red Cards

Graham Scott, a former Premier League referee and current expert for The Athletic, analyzed the circumstances for South Africa’s red cards. He noted that Sithole’s red was warranted for denying Brian Gutiérrez an evident goal-scoring opportunity. Although there was no malice in Sithole’s actions, his proximity and entanglement with Gutiérrez led to the fall, removing a clear chance for a goal.

The Brazilian referee, Wilton Sampaio, acted according to FIFA’s strict interpretation of rules regarding violent conduct, which differs from the more lenient approach in the Premier League. Zwane’s dismissal was seen as harsh by some, yet it underlined the critical nature of head and face contact in FIFA’s book. The dismissal of Cesar Montes further exemplified the serious consequences of denying a clear goal-scoring opportunity.

Raúl Jiménez’s Remarkable Return

Scoring a World Cup goal is always significant, but for Raúl Jiménez, it symbolized an exceptional comeback. Post skull fracture, Jiménez’s journey back to football was fraught with pain and challenges. He has become less central to the Mexican squad in skill but remains its passionate spirit, proving himself once more on the world stage with his critical goal against South Africa.

Julian Quiñones: The Emerging Mexican Star

Julian Quiñones, originally from Colombia, scored the opening goal of the 2026 World Cup, marking a peak in his evolving career. After transitioning to playing for Mexico, he has risen through ranks, recently topping the Saudi Arabian league’s goal-scoring charts. His confidence on the field was evident, as was the skillful support from teammate Érik Lira, who assisted in his decisive opening goal against South Africa.

South Africa’s Strategic Errors

Nerves were palpable for South Africa’s seasoned goalkeeper Ronwen Williams, whose risky pass led to a significant error, allowing Mexico to capitalize early. The choice to attempt what is widely known as ‘the most dangerous pass in football’ showed high risk with little tactical reward, contributing to the match’s early turnover in favor of Mexico.

The Opening Ceremony Experience

The pre-match festivities brought entertainment with highlights reminiscent of a Super Bowl performance. Mexican band Maná energized the crowd, followed by performances from JBalvin and Shakira. Shakira’s speech on unity added depth to the ceremony. In a new World Cup tradition, entire squads of both Mexico and South Africa took part in forming a ring on the field before the national anthems.

Upcoming Matches

• Thursday: Czech Republic vs South Korea (10 PM ET)
• Friday: Canada vs Bosnia and Herzegovina (3 PM ET), United States vs Paraguay (9 PM ET)
• Saturday: Qatar vs Switzerland (3 PM ET), Brazil vs Morocco (6 PM ET), Haiti vs Scotland (9 PM ET), Australia vs Turkey (12 AM ET+1)
• Sunday: Germany vs Curaçao (1 PM ET), Netherlands vs Japan (4 PM ET), Ivory Coast vs Ecuador (7 PM ET), Sweden vs Tunisia (10 PM ET)