The biggest World Cup in history is officially underway — and the hosts have set the tone with a fiery, red-card-filled victory. Mexico claimed a commanding 2-0 victory over South Africa in the 2026 World Cup opener, as Julian Quinones and Raul Jimenez etched their names into the tournament’s history books by netting the first two goals of the global showcase. In a chaotic match that saw more red cards than goals and ended with South Africa down to nine men, El Tri delivered exactly what the home crowd at Estadio Azteca came to see.
Table of Contents
Match Result at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | Mexico vs South Africa |
| Final Score | Mexico 2-0 South Africa |
| Competition | 2026 FIFA World Cup – Group A |
| Venue | Estadio Azteca, Mexico City |
| Date | June 11, 2026 |
| Mexico Goalscorers | Julian Quinones (9′), Raul Jimenez (67′) |
| Red Cards | Sithole (49′), Zwane (84′) – South Africa; Montes (90+2′) – Mexico |
| Possession | Mexico 60% – South Africa 40% |
Quinones Strikes First — A Historic World Cup Opener
The wait was over within minutes. In the opener, Mexico defeated South Africa 2-0 with goals from Julián Quiñones and Raúl Jiménez. The teams combined to receive three red cards: two for South Africa and one for Mexico.
The opening strike came from an unlikely source. Mexico’s Julián Quiñones opened the scoring with a goal in the ninth minute of play. After a South Africa giveaway near its own goal, the ball found Julian Quinones who drilled the first goal of the tournament.
There was an interesting backstory to the scorer. Quiñones scored the opening goal of the World Cup, and it’s unlikely for him to have done so for Mexico. The 29-year-old was actually born in Colombia and represented the country in youth competitions early in his career.
Mexico almost doubled their lead before the break. Mexico came agonizingly close to doubling their advantage. Williams initially made another stellar reaction save to deny Jimenez a second time, but the ball fell right back to Quinones. The winger’s curling effort beat the keeper but rattled sharply off the base of the right post and bounced clear.
Red Card Chaos — South Africa Down to Nine
The match took a major turn early in the second half. The referee didn’t see it at first, but was told to review the incident by the video assistant referee (VAR). Sphephelo Sithole was sent off in the 49th minute for a foul on Brian Gutierrez, leaving South Africa with 10 men.
The frustration was visibly building among the visitors. Another yellow card given to South Africa, this time awarded to defender Nkosinathi Sibisi for throwing an elbow to the face of Julián Quiñones. The frustration from the South African players is clearly growing.
The discipline continued to unravel. Zwane is being sent off after a VAR review, called by Nicolas Gallo. Themba Zwane’s dismissal in the 84th minute left South Africa with just nine players on the pitch.
Jimenez’s Emotional First-Ever World Cup Goal
The second goal came as a deeply personal moment for one of Mexico’s most beloved players. After the crowd was getting restless with some boos, Mexico has added to its lead. Raúl Jiménez finished a cross into the box with his head, knocking the ball into the back of the net to give Mexico a 2-0 lead as we head into another hydration break.
The emotional weight of the goal was clear. RAUL JIMÉNEZ FIRST-EVER FIFA WORLD CUP GOAL! 🇲🇽 The striker is in tears on the pitch. It’s been a great comeback for the 35-year-old who suffered a serious head injury in 2020, which threatened his career. Now, he’s a goalscorer at a World Cup on home soil.
Mexico Reduced to 10 in Stoppage Time
The drama wasn’t quite over. South Africa managed to run out for an opportunity late in this match, and Mexico’s César Montes was given a red card for a strong tackle on South Africa’s Khuliso Mudau as he was running toward the goal.
It was a moment of historical significance. This is the first World Cup opening match with three red cards, per the FOX broadcast. It was the first time it has happened in a World Cup opener and the first time in a World Cup in 20 years.
Match Stats — Mexico Dominate
Mexico dominated, winning the possession battle 60% to 40%. South Africa generated zero big chances and finished with an expected-goals performance of 0.07.
Key Match Stats
| Stat | Mexico | South Africa |
|---|---|---|
| Goals | 2 | 0 |
| Possession | 60% | 40% |
| Expected Goals (xG) | High | 0.07 |
| Big Chances | Multiple | 0 |
| Red Cards | 1 | 2 |
A Historic Setting
The venue itself made history before a ball was even kicked. It’s a historic setting for the start of the competition, with Estadio Azteca becoming the first stadium to host matches at three different men’s World Cups, having previously staged games in 1970 and 1986.
There was also a nostalgic angle to the fixture itself. These two teams also opened the 2010 World Cup when the tournament was held in South Africa.
A Teenage Milestone for Mexico
Mexico also rolled out a future star during the match. If Mora makes an appearance at any point during this tournament, he will become the youngest player to ever play for Mexico in a World Cup, and only the eighth-ever 17-year-old for any country.
He went on to make that appearance. Mora, 17, is Mexico’s teenage phenom. He has come into the match in the second half, and with South Africa down to 10 men, expect him to be aggressive. He also just made history as the youngest player to ever play for the country at a World Cup.
Opening Ceremony Sets the Stage
Before kickoff, fans were treated to a star-studded spectacle. Shakira, Andrea Bocelli and J Balvin performed at today’s colorful opening ceremony. It was the first of three, highlighting some of the most popular and exciting artists from around the globe.
The festivities began early Thursday with an Opening Ceremony featuring Shakira, Colombian singer J Balvin, Mexican pop-rock band Maná, as well as Latin music stars Belinda, Alejandro Fernández, Los Ángeles Azules, Lila Downs and Danny Ocean.
What’s Next?
Julián Quiñones and Raúl Jiménez scored for Mexico, which immediately jumps to the top of Group A.
The World Cup features 48 teams playing 104 matches in three host nations. 32 teams will advance from the group stage to the knockout rounds, culminating in the final July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
For South Africa, the road back is steep. Both Zwane and Sithole will be out for the next match for South Africa. With eight of the 12 third-place teams making the Round of 32, not all hope is lost to make the knockout rounds for South Africa. However, it’ll likely need a draw and a win over its two games against South Korea and Czechia.
Later in the day, attention shifts to Guadalajara. Later Thursday, the action continues in Guadalajara, where South Korea and Czechia meet at Estadio Akron to close out the opening day of group stage play.
FAQs
What was the score in the Mexico vs South Africa World Cup opener?
The 2026 edition of the FIFA World Cup kicked off with cohosts Mexico beating South Africa 2-0. The tournament opener was played at Mexico City Stadium in Mexico City, Mexico, where Julian Quinones gave the home side the lead in the first half. Raul Jiminez added the second in a match that saw three red cards issued.
Who scored for Mexico?
Julián Quiñones gave El Tri an early lead with the first goal of the tournament just nine minutes in, before Raúl Jiménez doubled the advantage in the second half to secure the victory in the opening match.
How many red cards were shown in the match?
A total of three red cards were shown — two for South Africa (Sithole and Zwane) and one for Mexico’s César Montes — making it the first World Cup opener in 20 years to feature three dismissals.
Where was the match played?
The match was played at the iconic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, which became the first stadium ever to host matches at three different men’s World Cups.
What does this result mean for Group A?
The win sends Mexico straight to the top of Group A, while South Africa now faces an uphill battle against South Korea and Czechia in their remaining group games.
