Co-hosts Mexico launched the historic, expanded 48-team FIFA World Cup 2026 with an assertive 2-0 victory over South Africa at the legendary Estadio Azteca on Thursday. Striker Julián Quiñones etched his name into football lore by firing the home nation ahead in the ninth minute before a second-half header from veteran Raúl Jiménez sealed the three points. The highly charged Group A match deteriorated into a chaotic disciplinary affair, concluding with three red cards as South Africa finished the night with nine men.
The victory places Mexico at the top of Group A alongside South Korea, who eked out a 2-1 win over Czechia in Guadalajara later that evening. Bafana Bafana, the lowest-ranked team in the pool at world number 60, face an uphill battle to keep their knockout qualification hopes alive after dropping maximum points on opening night. The encounter was preceded by a colourful opening ceremony 90 minutes before kickoff, celebrating North American culture and the unprecedented logistical scale of the 23rd edition of the tournament. A packed, boisterous crowd of 80,824 spectators filled the colosseum. The venue made global football history by becoming the first stadium ever to host matches across three individual World Cups, following its legendary roles in the 1970 and 1986 editions.
The host nation wasted little time asserting dominance on the new tournament ball, the adidas Trionda. In the ninth minute, midfielder Erik Lira dispossessed South Africa's Sphephelo "Yaya" Sithole deep in his own half. Lira quickly fed Quiñones, who clinical drove a low, powerful strike between the legs of South African goalkeeper and captain Ronwen Williams.
According to the official FIFA match report, the Mexican team continued to threaten throughout the first half, denied a larger margin only by a spectacular Williams save from a Jiménez header and the framework of the post stopping another Quiñones effort.
South Africa’s tactical game plan unravelled completely just four minutes into the second half. Yaya Sithole received a straight red card in the 49th minute for felling a racing Jiménez right on the edge of the penalty box, severely handicapping the African side's ability to transition into attack.
Taking advantage of the extra man, Mexico consolidated their control in the 67th minute. Quiñones combined smoothly with Jiménez on a counter-attack before setting up Roberto Alvarado, whose perfectly weighted back-post delivery was nodded firmly into the net by Jiménez.
Tempers flared in the closing stages of the match, leading to an unprecedented explosion of cards for an opening game. South Africa substitute Themba Zwane was dismissed with a red card in the 83rd minute, followed by Mexico centre-back César Montes, who saw red in stoppage time for a reckless challenge. The final whistle triggered massive celebrations inside the stadium, safe in the knowledge that El Tri's campaign had successfully commenced.
Despite the heavy defeat, South African captain Ronwen Williams remained resolute about Bafana Bafana's remaining group-stage fixtures against South Korea and Czechia. Williams described playing in a match of such magnitude at the Azteca as a beautiful, dream-like feeling. He added that although they went down, the team kept fighting, gave nothing away at the end, and promised they would be better in the upcoming games.