Mexico 2-0 South Africa Highlights, FIFA World Cup: Quinones' Opener Sends El Tri Past Nine-Man Bafana Bafana

THE WAIT IS FINALLY OVER! The biggest football show on the planet is here and we are kicking things off with our first live blog of the FIFA World Cup 2026 as hosts Mexico take on South Africa at the iconic Estadio Azteca. New tournament, bigger stage, opening-night nerves -- we’ve got it all covered. Stay with us for live updates as the World Cup officially gets underway.

The FIFA World Cup 2026 will be telecast live on Unite8 Sports network on television. For live streaming, one can catch the action on the Zee5 app and website.

• Location: Mexico City, Mexico

• Stadium: Mexico City Stadium

• Date: Thursday, 11 June

• Kick-off time: 12/06/2026 – 12:30 AM (IST)

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The FIFA World Cup 2026 is ready for lift-off as co-hosts Mexico face South Africa in the tournament opener at the iconic Estadio Azteca. Mexico enter the clash unbeaten in their last eight matches and backed by a packed home crowd, while South Africa return to football's biggest stage for the first time since hosting the tournament in 2010. With the first points of Group A on the line and a historic 48-team World Cup underway, both sides will be eager to make a strong start.

The home crowd's voice carries through the ground now, singing every word like they mean it. There's real weight to this, you can feel how much it matters to them. The pitch is ready. Everything's about to kick off.

The whistle's gone and we're off. Mexico are knocking it around early, getting a touch and a feel for things as the crowd in Mexico City cranks up the volume. South Africa aren't interested in chasing shadows just yet, they're sitting compact, letting the hosts have the ball while they get their shape sorted. Classic opening minutes stuff. Both sides getting their bearings.

Sloppy from Williams in possession. The South Africa keeper tries to play it out but gives his teammate absolutely nothing to work with, the ball's gone and out it comes for a throw. But Mexico don't need much here. Alvarado gets clattered shortly after and there's the free kick they want, in a threatening position.

There it is! Mexico have the lead and the stadium's gone absolutely wild. Williams does it again, another error from the back, playing a teammate into trouble and it's immediately pressed.

The space opens up and Julian Quinones is through, courtesy of Erik Lira's ball, and he doesn't waste it. Clinical finish past the keeper. The Colombian-born striker has just given Mexico the perfect start and Mexico City is roaring.

Mexico work the corner but Williams is equal to it, punching away Jimenez's flick without fuss. That's the only moment of respite though. South Africa are suffocating in their own defensive third right now, completely hemmed in. Mexico aren't letting them breathe.

Teboho Mokoena picks up the first yellow of the match. South Africa's midfielder is being run ragged by Mexico's relentless pressing, and now he's in the referee's book. With Mokoena already on a caution, South Africa need to be careful here, they can't afford to lose bodies with the way Mexico are dominating possession.

Quinones is in the mood after his opener and he's hungry for another. He winds up from outside the area and unleashes a right-footer that has everyone holding their breath, the ball clips the top of the net and bounces away. Inches. That close.

A quality strike that could easily have made it two and buried South Africa completely. The Colombian-born striker is playing with real edge now.

South Africa finally fashion something dangerous with a free kick in a threatening area, but Mexico clear it with relative ease from their penalty box. It's been a rare moment of promise for Bafana Bafana, but it's not enough to shift the momentum. The first drinks break of the tournament arrives now, with Mexico still firmly in command and well ahead of where they want to be.

Mexico are really sussing out South Africa's setup now and they've found a weakness. The switches out to Alvarado on the right are working a treat, and he's the focal point of their attacks. This time Alvarado keeps it alive and picks out Reyes with a clever pass.

Reyes clips a cross into the box but South Africa are backpedalling, and Williams comes off his line to claim it. Mexico are creating chances through that flank though, it's where the danger is coming from.

Alvarado is causing all sorts of problems. He dances away from two challenges, cuts inside and Mexico shift it quickly to the opposite flank. Gallardo takes the ball on the left and has time to pick out a cross, but he takes that extra touch and it's all Williams needs.

The South Africa keeper reads it perfectly and comes off his line to claim it before Jimenez can get a touch at the near post. Mexico are creating with regularity though, it's just a matter of time.

Ooh, Mexico are absolutely swarming now. Jimenez gets a lovely curling effort away and what a save from Williams, flying to his left with real class to keep it out. There's a brief moment wondering if he was even onside, but it doesn't matter because the keeper's made a world-class stop. Mexico don't let up though.

Quinones picks up the ball moments later and strikes low toward the bottom corner, but the post denies him. So close. Twice. South Africa are surviving on sheer luck and Williams' brilliance right now.

South Africa finally get something going as the half winds down. They work a short corner and whip it into the box, but Mexico clear without too much fuss. South Africa keep it though and Mbokazi has a go from distance, trying to catch Rangel off guard.

The Mexico keeper watches it comfortably and makes the stop. As the half comes to a close, Mexico are well in control. One goal ahead and completely dominant. South Africa have barely threatened.

We're into four minutes of added time of the first half and Mexico are pressing hard for another. They've got the ball back and they're hunting, looking to stretch their lead before the whistle goes.

A couple of good chances have come and gone in the last few minutes, but there's still time. South Africa are hanging on here, just trying to get to halftime without further damage. Mexico smell blood though, they want a second.

The half-time whistle blows right after Gutierrez's miss. Quinones had picked out Gutierrez with a one-on-one chance with Williams, but he gets it all wrong, the ball slides tamely wide of the post.

That's a big miss. Mexico have been absolutely dominant, but they go into halftime with just a one-goal lead. South Africa started showing some teeth toward the end of the half though, and you wonder if they'll come out with renewed energy in the second period. Can they capitalize on Mexico's wastefulness?

Mexican Al Qadsiah forward Julian Quinones made history by scoring the first goal of the FIFA World Cup 2026 during their Group A match against South Africa on Thursday, June 11, at the Mexico City Stadium.

Quinones' goal marks the earliest first goal scored in a FIFA World Cup tournament since 2006, when Philipp Lahm found the net for Germany against Costa Rica after just six minutes.

In anticipation of the tournament opener, fans from across the globe experienced the opening ceremony of the FIFA World Cup 2026. The event featured performances by the highly acclaimed Shakira and Burna Boy.

We're back underway. South Africa have the ball to restart and there's everything to play for in this second half. Mexico's one-goal lead is slender enough, and South Africa know they need to make changes if they're going to get back into this. The hosts will be looking to kill the game off early. Let's see who blinks first.

It's been mad. Gutierrez is clean through on goal and Sithole has to do something about it. He clips his heels trying to cut down the run, brings him down just outside the box.

No penalty, but the referee's got no choice, straight red. Sithole trudges off and South Africa are down to ten men. This changes everything. Mexico were already on top, and now they've got a man advantage. South Africa's task just went from difficult to nearly impossible.

Mbatha's already making mistakes with ten men. He gives away a free kick on the right, fouling Lira in the process. Gutierrez clips it in perfectly and Reyes gets a touch on it, flicking it toward the far post where Vasquez is waiting. But Reyes' touch takes it just away from him and Vasquez can't quite get there. Another chance gone for Mexico.

The hosts are absolutely relentless, and South Africa's defending is becoming increasingly stretched.

A real poacher's finish from Jimenez. He reads the play perfectly, makes that brilliant run to the back post and he's in exactly the right place. Quiñones does the hard work keeping it alive when it comes his way, and he finds Alvarado on the right.

The cross is absolutely inch-perfect and Jimenez meets it cleanly, heading it past Williams with precision. His first World Cup goal on his first start at the tournament and what a moment it is. Mexico are absolutely in control now, two up and South Africa are completely broken with ten men.

Sibisi had just made a perfectly timed tackle to dispossess Jiménez, but moments later he's in the referee's book. He steps in slightly late on Quiñones and that's the yellow card. South Africa are getting increasingly desperate out there with ten men, and Sibisi's frustration is showing. He can't afford another one.

Another one. Zwane's gone. The South African substitute is shown red after catching Alvarado in the face as he tries to get past him. At first glance it doesn't look like much, but the referee's got it right, contact to the face is violent conduct, no question about it.

Stunned looks all around on the South African bench. Two red cards in quick succession and now they're down to nine men. This match is completely over. Mexico will be asking themselves how many they can score from here.

We're deep into seven minutes of added time now and Mexico are still hunting. Alvarado can't find any joy down the right so they switch it out to the opposite flank. Vega gets the ball but gets caught in possession as he tries to cut inside. Another chance squandered. Mexico have been absolutely dominant but they've left quite a few opportunities on the pitch tonight.

That's it. The referee blows the final whistle and Mexico are off to a winning start. Two goals, three red cards, more dismissals than goals in this one. The co-hosts absolutely dominated once South Africa were reduced to ten men, then nine.