Mexico Begin FIFA World Cup 2026 with Convincing Win Over South Africa
Host nation Mexico opened the FIFA World Cup 2026 with a 2-0 victory over South Africa at Estadio Azteca on 12 June. Julian Quinones scored the tournament’s first goal before Raul Jimenez added a second after the break.
South Africa finished with 9 players following red cards to Yaya Sithole and Themba Zwane, while Mexico's Cesar Montes was also sent off in stoppage time. As the 2026 FIFA World Cup got underway at the iconic Estadio Azteca, Mexico made a strong statement with a 2-0 victory over South Africa in the opening match of the tournament. Backed by a passionate home crowd, the hosts dominated possession and created several chances from the start. Mexico took the lead through Julian Quinones, who scored the first goal of the 2026 World Cup and became the standout performer of the match.
His pace and movement caused constant problems for the South African defence throughout the first half. South Africa's hopes of a comeback suffered a major setback early in the second half when Yaya Sithole was shown a straight red card for bringing down Brian Gutierrez during a clear scoring opportunity. With a numerical advantage, Mexico tightened their grip on the contest and doubled their lead through experienced striker Raul Jimenez, who finished calmly to put the result beyond doubt.
The visitors' frustration grew as Themba Zwane received a red card for violent conduct, reducing South Africa to nine men. There was late drama when Mexico defender Cesar Montes was also sent off in stoppage time for a reckless challenge. Despite finishing with 10 men, Mexico secured all 3 points and began their home World Cup campaign in ideal fashion.