Three red cards shown as Mexico beat South Africa in World Cup opener

At a glance

  • Colourful opening ceremony takes place before the Group A match starts

  • Mexico take a ninth-minute lead with a goal from Julian Quinones, who later hits the post

  • South Africa's Yaya Sithole is the first player sent off in the 2026 World Cup

  • Raul Jimenez scores his first goal at a World Cup finals, heading Mexico's second

  • Themba Zwane is also sent off for South Africa, leaving them down to nine, and Mexico's Cesar Montes is dismissed late on

  • PLAYER RATER

Michael Emons
BBC Sport journalist

Three players were sent off as World Cup co-hosts Mexico defeated South Africa in a dramatic opening match at a packed Azteca Stadium.

South Africa finished with nine men, while Mexico were reduced to 10 in the closing moments.

Brazilian referee Wilton Sampaio produced the flurry of red cards, dismissing South Africa's Yaya Sithole for denying a goalscoring opportunity and Themba Zwane for a slap, then sending off Mexico's Cesar Montes for a late foul.

Only four red cards were shown in the entire Qatar 2022 World Cup, while three had never been shown in a tournament-opening game before.

Long before any hint of that turn of events, Mexico delighted their fans with the first goal of the finals after only nine minutes.

South Africa midfielder Sithole was tackled by Erik Lira and the ball dropped to Julian Quinones whose powerful strike went though the legs of goalkeeper Ronwen Williams.

Quinones almost made it 2-0 just before half-time, but his 12-yard first-time shot bounced off the foot of the right post.

The hosts' task became much easier when Sithole was sent off five minutes into the second half, bringing down Brian Gutierrez when he was going through on goal.

Striker Raul Jimenez, 35, sealed the victory with his first goal at a World Cup, heading in powerfully from Roberto Alvarado's cross for Mexico's second, a moment that appeared to bring tears from the veteran.

Mexico celebrate a goalGetty Images

Mexico's best runs at the World Cup came in the 1970 and 1986 tournaments they hosted, when they reached the quarter-finals on both occasions

South Africa were playing in the finals for the first time since they hosted the 2010 competition, but they ended with nine men as substitute Zwane was ordered off for slapping the face of Alvarado.

Seventeen-year-old Mexico midfielder, Gilberto Mora, the youngest player in this tournament, became the second youngest to appear in a World Cup, behind only Brazil great Pele, who played in the 1958 competition when he was also 17.

Mexico had a red card of their own late on, when Montes fouled Khuliso Mudau, but the hosts maintained their two-goal advantage.

Three red cards shown in opening game of World Cup

Emotions come flooding out for Jimenez

Raul Jimenez, in largely green kit, points to someone out of shot as he celebrates scoring for MexicoGetty Images

Mexico striker Raul Jimenez suffered a fractured skull in November 2020 and was emotional as he celebrated scoring his first goal at a World Cup finals

This is Mexico's third experience of World Cup hosting, and they have got off to the perfect start, late red card notwithstanding.

Just as in 1970 and 1986, the famous Azteca in Mexico City staged the opening match of the tournament.

Fans were treated to a colourful opening ceremony with Colombian singer Shakira among the performers, before the football began.

The carnival atmosphere continued as Mexico, ranked 14th in the world, instantly took control against a South Africa side who sit 46 places below them.

After South Africa gifted the home side an early goal, there only looked to be one likely outcome, with Bafana Bafana's task becoming much harder following Sithole's red card.

Jimenez suffered a life-threatening fractured skull injury when playing for Wolves against Arsenal in November 2020 and was in tears of joy as he celebrated scoring his first goal on the highest stage.

At the age of 35, it was clear this game meant a lot to the striker who will return to Wolves for next season after ending his stint at Fulham.

He nearly scored after four minutes, only for a superb one-handed save from Williams to keep out a well-struck half-volley.

But he got his moment midway through the second half with a superb header, letting the emotions spill out as he celebrated with team-mates.

A performer wears a colourful costume amid a host of entertainers dressed in gold at the opening ceremonyGetty Images

Before the match started, a colourful opening ceremony took place

Player of the match

R. Jiménez
7.68
9 R. Jiménez
7.68
16 J. Quiñones
7.12
26 B. Gutiérrez
6.37
25 R. Alvarado
6.36
23 J. Gallardo
6.34
5 J. Vásquez
6.18
6 É. Lira
6.07
8 Á. Fidalgo
6.02
1 R. Rangel
6.00
15 I. Reyes
5.81
3 C. Montes
5.78
19 G. Mora
5.69
4 E. Álvarez
5.58
10 A. Vega
5.34
24 L. Chávez
5.33
14 A. González
5.11
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