Mexico cruises in opener as South Africa reduced to nine players after two red cards

Mexico made a commanding start to the 2026 World Cup, defeating South Africa 2-0 in the tournament's opening match at the Azteca Stadium.

Julian Quiñones netted the first goal of the World Cup before veteran forward Raul Jiménez sealed the victory, giving the co-hosts an ideal start to their Group A campaign.

South Africa struggled to make an impact throughout the contest and ended the match with nine players after Sphephelo Sithole and Themba Zwane were both sent off.

The festive atmosphere inside the Azteca had barely settled when Mexico struck in the ninth minute. Quiñones fired a low shot through the legs of South African captain and goalkeeper Ronwen Williams, sending the capacity crowd of 80,824 into celebration.

The iconic Azteca Stadium, the first venue to host matches at three different World Cups, erupted as fans roared their approval.

South Africa coach Hugo Broos had warned his team about the intimidating environment, but his players appeared overwhelmed early on, with Mexican supporters chanting "Ole!" as the hosts dominated possession.

Sithole endured a particularly difficult afternoon, losing the ball in the buildup to Quiñones' opener. His day worsened when he was shown a red card in the 49th minute for bringing down Brian Gutierrez while the Mexican attacker was through on goal.

Mexico doubled their lead in the 67th minute through a swift counterattack. Roberto Alvarado delivered a precise cross from the right, and Wolverhampton Wanderers striker Jiménez headed home at the far post.

South Africa's woes deepened in the 84th minute when Zwane was sent off following a VAR review for striking Alvarado in the face with his arm.

There was a late twist when Mexico defender Cesar Montes received a red card for a mistimed challenge on Khuliso Mudau just outside the penalty area, but it did little to alter the outcome as Mexico comfortably secured all three points.