Mexico beat South Africa 2-0 in the opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup at the Azteca Stadium on Thursday. Two red cards left Bafana Bafana with nine men by the end.
Mexico scored first through Julián Quiñones after a mistake by South African midfielder Sphephelo Sithole. Raúl Jiménez added a second-half header to seal the win in front of more than 80,000 fans.
Sithole received a red card in the 50th minute for a tackle on Brian Gutierrez. Substitute Themba Zwane was also sent off in the 84th minute, while Mexico’s César Montes received a late red card.
This was South Africa’s first World Cup match in 16 years. Their record in opening matches now stands at zero wins, three draws and one loss. Coach Hugo Broos had said before the game that winning the opener was vital in their group.
The match marked several firsts for the tournament, including the first 48-team edition and the first opener featuring three red cards.
