Co-hosts Mexico kicked off the 2026 FIFA World Cup in style with a convincing 2-0 victory over South Africa in the tournament’s opening match at the iconic Estadio Azteca.Backed by a passionate home crowd, El Tri made an early statement of intent and maintained control for much of the Group A encounter to secure all three points.
Mexico took the lead in the opening stages of the match through Julián Quiñones, who capitalised on a defensive lapse to score the first goal of the tournament.Despite attempts by South Africa to find an equaliser, Mexico remained composed and continued to threaten in attack.
Their persistence paid off in the second half when Raúl Jiménez doubled the hosts’ advantage with a well-taken header to put the result beyond doubt.The contest, however, was not without controversy, as disciplinary issues overshadowed parts of the game.
South Africa finished the match with nine players following the dismissals of Sphephelo Sithole and Themba Zwane, while Mexico also ended the encounter with 10 men after César Montes received a late red card.The victory marks a dream start to Mexico’s World Cup campaign as the host nation seeks to make a deep run in front of its supporters.
For South Africa, the defeat means they will need a positive response in their remaining group fixtures to keep their hopes of progression alive.Mexico now turns its attention to its next Group A match against South Korea, while South Africa will aim to bounce back when they take on the Czech Republic.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup, jointly hosted by Mexico, the United States and Canada, officially got underway with the highly anticipated opening clash in Mexico City, setting the stage for a month-long celebration of football.
