Three players were sent off in the opening game for the first time in World Cup history as co-hosts Mexico defeated nine-man South Africa in a chaotic match at a raucous Estadio Azetca in Mexico City.
Sphephelo Sithole and Themba Zwane were shown red cards for South Africa before Mexico captain Cesar Montes was sent off in stoppage time. Three red cards is the most in a single World Cup game since 2006.
There was also an emotional moment for Raul Jimenez, who doubled Mexico’s lead with a second-half header six years after suffering a life-threatening fractured skull when playing for Wolves against Arsenal. He appeared to have tears in his eyes as he celebrated with his team-mates.
Earlier, Music icons Shakira and Burna Boy headlined a star-studded opening ceremony at Estadio Azteca – the first of three at the tournament, with the US and Canada also hosting their own ceremonies tomorrow.
The action continues as Czech Republic and South Korea face off in the second Group A match with kick off in Zapopan scheduled for 3am BST.
Follow all the action from the World Cup 2026 below:
‘We’re not used to this’
“If you make mistakes, they will punish you,” South Africa goalkeeper Ronwen Williams says. “They will hurt you at this level. I think the most important thing is that now we know what we’re up against, because we’re not used to this.
“We haven’t been part of the World Cup for a very long time. We went down, but we kept fighting. We didn’t give them anything towards the end. We had a few decent chances as well. We’ll keep fighting, we’ll keep going as a team, and we’ll be better.”
Fox criticised over World Cup 2026 coverage after missing Shakira and action during hydration breaks
The television broadcast also missed the entirety of Shakira’s performance in the opening ceremony before the game which also disgruntled viewers.
USA flag booed before World Cup 2026 opening game in Mexico City
The United States flag appeared to be met with loud boos and jeers before the opening game of the World Cup in Mexico City.
Ahead of the big kick-off between Mexico and South Africa, the flags of all 48 teams participating in this summer’s tournament were paraded onto the pitch.
What’s next?
Group A’s other opening fixture between Czech Republic and South Korea kicks off at 03:00 BST, Friday, from Guadalajara.
That one will be shown live on ITV as well for those committing to a long night.
Then we will be back for Canada’s bow at 20:00 BST when they host Bosnia in Toronto.
Mora history
As per Fifa, Gilberto Mora, at 17 years and 240 days, became the sixth-youngest player to make a World Cup appearance.
Pele (17 years and 235 days), Salomon Olembe (17 years and 185 days), Femi Opabunmi (17 years and 101 days), Samuel Eto’o (17 years and 99 days) and Norman Whiteside (17 years and 41 days) were his junior.
Reds spoil otherwise party atmosphere
Mexico got the World Cup party started as the co-hosts swept away South Africa 2-0 on Thursday in an encounter with three red cards as the quadrennial football extravaganza got underway at the Azteca stadium.
Julian Quinones’s early strike set the tone for a dominant Mexican display in the Group A encounter `with Raul Jimenez’s header midway through the second half removing any lingering tension for the home crowd. Yet the match will be remembered as much for the three dismissals, with South Africa having Sphephelo Sithole sent off early in the second half, with his teammate Themba Zwane following him off the pitch before Mexico’s Cesar Montes was dismissed in the dying moments.
The ill-tempered encounter `spoiled an otherwise party atmosphere, yet the home crowd got to celebrate an opening victory that will set them up nicely to make it out of a group `that also includes South Korea and the Czech Republic. The game was barely minutes old when Jimenez stung the fingertips of South Africa goalkeeper Ronwen Williams with a volley from 12 yards, but the tournament’s opening goal was not long in coming.
Quinones: Spectacular, amazing
Julian Quinones, who was man of the match, said: “I’m happy and excited to score my first World Cup goal, in such a spectacular stadium with amazing fans.
“It’s important for me to acknowledge what my team-mates did to secure the first three points. We’ve felt the support of the fans these past few days. We’re united and today it really showed.”
‘Beautiful beyond words’
Roberto Alvarado, who was pretty good on the wing for Mexico, speaks afterwards, via Fifa: “It was a really beautiful feeling, something beyond words, something I had always dreamed of: playing a match of this magnitude, at home, with these fans.
“The game plan is always to go out and press. After that, we dropped the tempo a bit, and maybe we lacked a little more patience and possession of the ball. I’m happy that Raul was able to score that goal.
“At half-time, he told me to send in a cross for him. I didn’t think twice, and I knew that in that area it could be dangerous. Thank God I got the assist and Raul was able to score that goal.”
Match report
Raul Jimenez provided Mexico with a “very special moment” to kick off the World Cup for the co-hosts in a 2-0 victory over South Africa, which included three red cards.
The Wolves striker, starting in the World Cup for the first time, scored his first goal in the tournament with a powerful header.
Jimenez, who overcame a career-threatening head injury in 2020, was brought to tears after scoring at the Estadio Azteca, doubling the hosts’ lead after Julián Quiñones had scored the first goal of the tournament.
The 35-year-old was emotional after his father died aged 62 just three months ago, with pundits Thierry Henry and former teammate Javier Hernandez paying tribute to him.
Henry told Fox: “Why was he emotional? Because I remember everyone thought his career was over, then he came back but I’m sure he was thinking of his dad.”
