Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleSouth Africa's World Cup 2026 campaign began with a defeat to co-hosts Mexico, with Bafana Bafana ending the match with nine men after two red cards. Sphephelo Sithole was dismissed for denying a goal-scoring opportunity, while Themba Zwane received a controversial red card for violent conduct after a VAR review. Mexico also had a player, Cesar Montes, sent off in the dying stages for denying a goal-scoring opportunity, bringing the total red cards in the match to three. This match marked the first time a World Cup opener featured three or more red cards, and the first time since 2006 that a team received two red cards in a World Cup game. All three dismissed players – Sithole, Zwane, and Montes – will miss their respective nations' upcoming World Cup fixtures. In fullThree red cards in the World Cup’s opening game – why were the players sent off?Thank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in
Mexico-South Africa set red card record in World Cup opener
Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleSouth Africa's World Cup 2026 campaign began with a defeat to co-hosts Mexico, with Bafana Bafana ending the match with nine men after two red cards. Sphephelo Sithole was dismissed for denying a goal-scoring opportunity, while Themba Zwane received a controversial red card for violent conduct after a VAR review. Mexico also had a player, Cesar Montes, sent off in the dying stages for denying a goal-scoring opportunity, bringing the total red cards in the match to three. This match marked the first time a World Cup opener featured three or more red cards, and the first time since 2006 that a team received two red cards in a World Cup game. All three dismissed players – Sithole, Zwane, and Montes – will miss their respective nations' upcoming World Cup fixtures. In fullThree red cards in the World Cup’s opening game – why were the players sent off?Thank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in
