Mexico 2–0 South Africa: Quiñones & Jiménez win World Cup opener in three-red-card thriller

Mexico made history at the Estadio Azteca by winning their first-ever World Cup opening match at the eighth attempt, beating South Africa 2–0 in a dramatic Group A opener. Julián Quiñones struck after just nine minutes — the first goal of the 2026 World Cup — before Raúl Jiménez headed in a second in the 67th minute to seal a comfortable win.

The co-hosts dominated from the start, racking up 1.41 expected goals to South Africa's 0.07. Quiñones capitalised when Érik Lira pressed Sphephelo Sithole into a mistake on the edge of the area, and the forward finished low and hard past the goalkeeper. Jiménez's goal was a close-range header from Roberto Alvarado's cross — his first World Cup goal and his 46th international strike, drawing level with Borghetti as Mexico's second-highest scorer ever.

The night turned chaotic in the second half. Sithole was sent off in the 49th minute for a foul on Gutiérrez. Themba Zwane followed in the 84th minute after a VAR review for striking Alvarado. Mexico's César Montes was then dismissed in stoppage time, leaving both sides reduced — South Africa to nine men, Mexico to ten. It was the first time in World Cup history that three red cards were shown in an opening match.

The Estadio Azteca, which previously hosted matches at the 1970 and 1986 World Cups, became the first venue ever to stage games at three different men's World Cups.