Co-host Mexico began the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a 2-0 victory over South Africa at a packed Azteca Stadium, taking three points from an opening match marked by goals from Julián Quiñones and Raúl Jiménez and the dismissal of three players.

Quiñones put Mexico ahead in the ninth minute, giving the home side an early advantage in the first fixture of the tournament. His goal was the earliest opening goal in a World Cup since 2006, according to the supplied BBC report. The forward later described running toward the bench to share the celebration with teammates who had given him confidence.

Jiménez doubled the lead in the second half. He helped begin the move by holding the ball and finding Quiñones in midfield. Roberto Alvarado then received possession on the right and delivered a cross into the area, where Jiménez headed the ball down and inside the near post. It was Jiménez’s first World Cup goal after four appearances at the tournament, and the moment visibly moved the striker.

South Africa’s attempt to recover was severely complicated by two straight red cards. Sphephelo Sithole was dismissed before Themba Zwane was also sent off. A video review preceded the latter decision after Zwane struck Alvarado in the face while moving toward the penalty area. South Africa finished with nine players.

Mexico also ended the contest below full strength. In stoppage time, César Montes brought down Khuliso Mudau as the South African advanced on the right during a four-against-three break. The referee showed Montes a red card, making this only the seventh World Cup match to feature at least three dismissals and the first tournament opener to do so, the BBC reported.

South Africa coach Hugo Broos accepted the first sending-off but questioned the second. He nevertheless said his team had played well at times and argued that Mexico had struggled to find space. Broos identified South Africa’s use of the ball as an area requiring improvement before the remaining group fixtures.

Despite the disciplinary disruption, the result gave Mexico a successful start at its home tournament. The co-host controlled the score from Quiñones’s early finish onward, then gained a two-goal cushion through Jiménez before the late sequence of dismissals dominated the closing stages.

The match followed an opening ceremony at the Azteca featuring Shakira, Burna Boy and J Balvin. Once play began, Mexico provided the home crowd with both goals, while South Africa left the opener needing to regroup for matches against Czechia and South Korea. Montes’s late dismissal was the only significant setback in an otherwise winning start for the co-host.