Mexico combined an early breakthrough with a late surge to secure a perfect start to the tournament.
Co-hosts Mexico defeated South Africa 2–0 in the opening match of the World Cup at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City on Thursday.
Julian Quiñones and Raul Jimenez found the net for Mexico, while South Africa finished the match with two players sent off in a one-sided contest played in front of a crowd of 80,000.
Mexico’s opening win of the 2026 World Cup came in a match that unfolded more as a tense, controlled contest than a high-scoring spectacle.
The breakthrough arrived inside the first 10 minutes, when Julian Quiñones produced a composed finish to give Mexico an early lead and set the tone for the rest of the game.
Tensions on the pitch ran high, with the match producing more red cards than goals, but Mexico controlled the tempo and maintained greater discipline to carry their lead into halftime.
In the second half, Raul Jimenez added a memorable finish, slotting home a second goal to seal a 2–0 victory and give the home supporters a strong start to the tournament.
The striker’s finish was a composed, celebratory strike that capped a night Mexico controlled at the key moments.
Before kickoff, the stadium was already alive with the spectacle of the opening ceremony.
Shakira, Andrea Bocelli and J Balvin headlined a vibrant show — the first of three ceremonies designed to highlight some of the world’s most celebrated artists and announce the global festival atmosphere of the World Cup.
Looking ahead
Mexico will next return to action in a week, with Mexico national football team facing South Korea on June 18 at 9 pm ET, before concluding their group campaign against the Czech Republic on June 24 at 9 pm.
South Africa’s next Group A fixtures see them play the Czech Republic on June 18 at noon, followed by a clash against South Korea on June 24.
