Mexico 2-0 South Africa: Quiñones and Jiménez strike as co-hosts win World Cup opener
Co-hosts Mexico kick-started the 2026 FIFA World Cup with an explosive, high-stakes 2-0 victory over South Africa at a rocking Estadio Azteca, though a clinical performance on the pitch was nearly eclipsed by an unprecedented flurry of second-half red cards.
Javier Aguirre’s side wasted no time feeding off the raucous energy of the home crowd, taking the lead after just nine minutes. South Africa’s Sphephelo Sithole was caught in possession on the edge of his own area by a relentless Érik Lira press. The loose ball broke perfectly for Julián Quiñones, who calmly slid a low finish between the legs of Bafana Bafana goalkeeper Ronwen Williams to score the first goal of the expanded 48-team tournament.
Mexico dominated the opening 45 minutes, with Quiñones rattling the post and Williams producing a string of sharp saves to deny veteren forward Raúl Jiménez. South Africa offered little going forward and their mountain became significantly steeper just five minutes into the second half when Sithole’s miserable evening was compounded by a straight red card for hauling down Brian Gutiérrez as the last man.
The introduction of 17-year-old Gilberto Mora—making history as the sixth-youngest player to ever appear at a World Cup—sparked a second wave of Mexican dominance. The crucial second goal arrived in the 67th minute when Roberto Alvarado delivered a delicious cross to the back post, where Jiménez stood waiting to head powerfully into the corner, claiming his first-ever World Cup goal and typing Jared Borgetti as his nation’s joint-second highest goalscorer.
With the points seemingly secure, a feisty match dissolved into disciplinary chaos. South Africa were reduced to nine men in the 84th minute when substitute Themba Zwane was dismissed following a VAR review for striking Mexico captain César Montes. Yet, Montes failed to see out the match himself, picking up a straight red card in second-half stoppage time for a professional foul on Khuliso Mudau to ensure Mexico also finished with 10 men.
The late madness did little to spoil the party in Mexico City. El Tri broke their opening-match hoodoo to go straight to the top of Group A, leaving a disciplined but ultimately overwhelmed South Africa with everything to do in their upcoming fixture against Czechia.
