The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicked off on June 11 at Mexico City’s Azteca Stadium with a match that will be remembered less for the scoreline and more for the carnage. Mexico beat South Africa 2-0, but the real headline was three red cards in a single opening fixture, a record for World Cup openers.
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A match that went sideways fast
Mexico’s Julián Quiñones opened the tournament’s scoring in the 9th minute, giving the home crowd at the Azteca exactly what they came for.
South Africa’s Sphephelo Sithole was sent off in the 49th minute, just four minutes after the restart. Raúl Jiménez doubled Mexico’s lead in the 67th minute. Themba Zwane, also of South Africa, picked up the match’s second red card in the 84th minute, reducing his side to nine men. Mexico’s César Montes was dismissed in the 90+2 minute of stoppage time. Referee Wilton Pereira Sampaio officiated the match.
