By Favour Raphael
Mexico kicked off their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign with a 2–0 victory over South Africa in a tense and ill-tempered opening match that produced three red cards.
The hosts dominated much of the contest and took the lead through Julian Quiñones, who capped a lively first-half display after earlier striking the woodwork.
South Africa’s hopes of mounting a comeback suffered a major setback shortly after the restart when Yaya Sithole was sent off for bringing down Brian Gutierrez outside the penalty area, denying a clear goalscoring opportunity.
With a numerical advantage, Mexico increased the pressure and eventually doubled their lead through Raul Jimenez, who headed home from close range.
The situation worsened for South Africa later in the game when Themba Zwane received a straight red card for violent conduct, reducing the team to nine men.
Mexico comfortably saw out the remainder of the match to secure all three points and make a winning start to their World Cup campaign, while South Africa were left to reflect on a disappointing performance marked by disciplinary issues.
