Mexico began its 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign with a 2-0 victory against South Africa at Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca. Julian Quinones opened the scoring in the ninth minute, followed by a goal from Raul Jimenez, securing a strong start for the co-hosts in Group A. South Africa’s chances were significantly hampered by two red cards, issued to Sphephelo Sithole and Themba Zwane, leaving them with nine players. The match marked the opening of the largest World Cup ever, and the Azteca Stadium became the first venue to host games in three different tournaments. A crowd of over 80,000 witnessed Mexico’s dominant performance and enthusiastic fan support. The South African team struggled to cope with the atmosphere and Mexican pressure, contributing to their challenging outing.