Mexico Vs South Africa, FIFA World Cup 2026: Red Cards Mar El Tri's Win Over Bafana Bafana In Opener
Three players were sent off as co-hosts Mexico beat South Africa 2-0 in a chaotic FIFA World Cup 2026 opener on Thursday, June 11. After an elaborate opening ceremony, the Group A fixture kicked off with El Tri controlling the exchanges from the get-go, and it took only nine minutes to enrapture the majority of the 80,824 in attendance at the iconic Azteca Stadium (renamed Mexico City Stadium for the tournament) as Julian Quinones scored this edition's first goal. Raul Jimenez sealed the win with a header in the 66th. Sphephelo Sithole and Themba Zwane were both given red cards, forcing Bafana Bafana to finish the match with nine players. Mexico defender Cesar Montes was given the marching orders in injury time. Up next, Mexico will play South Korea in Guadalajara while South Africa face Czechia in Atlanta, both next Thursday.
A demonstrator holds a Mexican flag during a march before the opening day of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Mexico City, Thursday, June 11, 2026. | Photo: AP/Ginnette Riquelme
Performers on the pitch during the opening ceremony before the start of the World Cup Group A soccer match between Mexico and South Africa in Mexico City, Thursday, June 11, 2026. | Photo: AP/Natacha Pisarenko
Performers on the pitch during the opening ceremony before the start of the World Cup Group A soccer match between Mexico and South Africa in Mexico City, Thursday, June 11, 2026. | Photo: AP/Natacha Pisarenko)
CONMEBOL President Alejandro Dominguez, center, chats with UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin, back to camera, on the tribune before the start of the World Cup Group A soccer match between Mexico and South Africa in Mexico City, Thursday, June 11, 2026. AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko
Police officers block off protesting families of Mexico's missing people trying to reach the stadium during the opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Mexico City, Thursday, June 11, 2026. AP Photo/Alejandro Cegarra
Singer Shakira performs on the pitch during the opening ceremony before the start of the World Cup Group A soccer match between Mexico and South Africa in Mexico City, Thursday, June 11, 2026. AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan
Performers on the pitch during the opening ceremony before the start of the World Cup Group A soccer match between Mexico and South Africa in Mexico City, Thursday, June 11, 2026. AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan
Mexican fans cheer before the World Cup Group A soccer match between Mexico and South Africa in Mexico City, Thursday, June 11, 2026. AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo
Mexican-American actress Salma Hayek gestures on the pitch before the start of the World Cup Group A soccer match between Mexico and South Africa in Mexico City, Thursday, June 11, 2026. AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko
A general view of the Mexico City stadium ahead of the World Cup Group A soccer match between Mexico and South Africa in Mexico City, Thursday, June 11, 2026. AP Photo/Antonio Felix
Team Mexico pose before the start of the World Cup Group A soccer match between Mexico and South Africa in Mexico City, Thursday, June 11, 2026. AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan
Team South Africa pose before the start of the World Cup Group A soccer match between Mexico and South Africa in Mexico City, Thursday, June 11, 2026. AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan
Mexico's Julian Quinones (16) celebrates scoring their opening goal against South Africa during the World Cup Group A soccer match between Mexico and South Africa in Mexico City, Thursday, June 11, 2026. AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo
Mexico fans cheer a goal in the opening World Cup Group A soccer match between Mexico and South Africa on beachfront big screens in Miami Beach, Fla., Thursday, June 11, 2026. AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell
Mexico's Raul Jimenez, left, and South Africa's Ime Okon during the World Cup Group A soccer match between Mexico and South Africa in Mexico City, Thursday, June 11, 2026. AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko
South Africa goalkeeper Ronwen Williams makes a save in fron of Mexico's Raul Jimenez and South Africa's Mbekezeli Mbokazi during the World Cup Group A soccer match between Mexico and South Africa in Mexico City, Thursday, June 11, 2026. AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan
Mexico head coach Javier Aguirre gestures during the World Cup Group A soccer match between Mexico and South Africa in Mexico City, Thursday, June 11, 2026. AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko
Spectators watch the opening match of the World Cup soccer tournament between Mexico and South Africa, Thursday, June 11, 2026, at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York. AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura
Mexico's Raul Jimenez celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the World Cup Group A soccer match between Mexico and South Africa in Mexico City, Thursday, June 11, 2026. AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko
Referee Wilton Sampaio shows a red card to South Africa's Sphephelo Sithole, left, during the World Cup Group A soccer match between Mexico and South Africa in Mexico City, Thursday, June 11, 2026. AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko
FIFA President Gianni Infantino gestures before the World Cup Group A soccer match between Mexico and South Africa in Mexico City, Thursday, June 11, 2026. AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko
Fans gather to watch the first match of the World Cup between Mexico and South Africa in Aden, Yemen, Thursday, June 11, 2026. AP Photo/Abdulnasser Alseddik
South Africa's Themba Zwane (11) receives a red card from referee Wilton Sampaio, of Brazil, in the second half during the World Cup Group A soccer match between Mexico and South Africa in Mexico City, Thursday, June 11, 2026. AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo
Stadium attendance is displayed on a scoreboard during the World Cup Group A soccer match between Mexico and South Africa in Mexico City, Thursday, June 11, 2026. AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo
Mexico players celebrate at the end of the World Cup Group A soccer match between Mexico and South Africa in Mexico City, Thursday, June 11, 2026. AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko
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