Mexico and South Korea launched their 2026 World Cup campaigns with victories on Friday. Mexico defeated South Africa 2-0, with goals from Raúl Jiménez and Julián Quiñones, dominating a match where the South African team struggled to mount a response. Simultaneously, South Korea overcame the Czech Republic 2-1, thanks to goals from Hwang Inbeom and Oh Hyeongyu. These results place both Mexico and South Korea at the top of Group A. Later Friday evening, Canada is scheduled to compete against Bosnia and Herzegovina in a Group B match. The tournament’s opening day showcased strong performances from the two winning teams, setting the stage for competitive play. These early wins position Mexico and South Korea favorably as the group stage progresses.