Co-hosts Mexico get off to victorious start, beating South Africa 2-0 as the largest World Cup in history kick off Thursday at Mexico City’s famed Estadio Azteca.
While a joyous occasion for Mexico, the match marred by three red cards — two for South Africa and one for Mexico — the most in an opening World Cup contest.
It be Mexico’s eighth time playing in the opening match of a World Cup and their first win in an opener, having previously lost five and drawn two — including against then-host South Africa at the 2010 World Cup.
And it be a fitting way to mark the occasion as the Azteca, which get a much-needed face-lift ahead of the 48-team tournament wey Mexico dey co-host alongside the United States and Canada, become the first stadium to host three World Cups.
“It was an experience unlike any other,” defender Israel Reyes talk. “I don’t think I’ve ever had goose bumps like that. It was the pinnacle of something I had been hoping for and working toward in my career for years.”
“It unfolded exactly as I had expected and envisioned — a dream come true for me.”
The more than 80,000 fans, largely clad in Mexico green, no wait long to celebrate the tournament’s first goal. Julián Quiñones strike low through the legs of South Africa goalkeeper Ronwen Williams with less than nine minutes gone.
The goal for Quiñones, wey be the top scorer in the Saudi league this season, be the earliest to start a World Cup since Philipp Lahm net for Germany against Costa Rica after six minutes in 2006.
“I’m happy and excited to have scored in this packed stadium and with the fans supporting us the whole time,” he talk. “We played well and we achieved this victory as a team.”
South Africa’s hopes of getting back into the game dent when midfielder Sphephelo “Yaya” Sithole show straight red card early in the second half after he take down Brian Gutiérrez on the edge of the box when through on goal.
After some brief frustration from the Azteca fans, veteran striker Raúl Jiménez make sure of the opening win for the co-hosts when heading into the net from close range midway through the second half.
With his 46th international goal and his first in three World Cups, Jiménez tie Jared Borgetti for second place for the Mexican national team. He be six goals shy of leader Javier “Chicharito” Hernández.
“Honestly, we didn’t focus on [the difficult moments of the match],” substitute Érik Lira talk. “We tried to do our job and give it our best.”
“We know it’s a huge responsibility, because 11 Mexicans are representing a country of 180 million people, so, we did the best we could, and from the moment the referee started the match, we went out there to win.”
Mexico also hand a World Cup debut to teenager Gilberto Mora in the second half. At 17 years, 240 days, he be the youngest player to play for Mexico in a World Cup and the sixth youngest in tournament history.
South Africa’s day take further turn for the worse when Themba Zwane send off for striking Roberto Alvarado in the face following a VAR review. E be the first time any team receive two red cards in a World Cup match since the Netherlands and Portugal show two each in 2006.
Brazilian referee Wilton Pereira Sampaio no finish yet, hand a third red card to Mexico’s César Montes in stoppage time. With three red cards, this World Cup already just one shy of equaling the four from four years ago in Qatar.
Mexico, coming off a first-round exit at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, get three points in Group A and go play South Korea on June 18 in Guadalajara. South Africa go play Czechia on the same day in Atlanta.
Before the first match of the 2026 World Cup, Shakira, Maná, Andrea Bocelli and a surprise appearance by Salma Hayek light up the opening ceremony. Shakira perform “Dai Dai,” the tournament’s official song with Burna Boy, in her fourth performance at a World Cup opening ceremony.
Mexican-American songwriter Lila Downs welcome fans and players in Spanish, English, and the indigenous languages Mixtec and Nahuatl.
