Co-hosts Mexico cruised to a convincing 2-0 victory over South Africa in an action-packed 2026 FIFA World Cup curtain-raiser, as El Tri extended their impressive unbeaten record in tournament openers to eight matches (W6, D2).
Kicking off football’s global showpiece for the second time in 16 years, Mexico and South Africa walked out to a fervent atmosphere inside the historic Azteca Stadium.
Tri nearly rewarded the passionate home support with a breakthrough inside five minutes, only for Raul Jimenez’s powerful low effort to be smartly turned around the post by Ronwen Williams.
Bafana Bafana didn’t heed that early warning, though, and Mexico were soon celebrating the tournament’s opening goal, as a loose touch from Yaya Sithole was pounced upon by Julian Quinones, who fired an unerring finish through the legs of Williams to send the crowd into bedlam.
Clocked at nine minutes, that strike was the earliest the first goal of a World Cup had been scored since Philipp Lahm in 2006.
Javier Aguirre’s side looked to build on their fast start, with man-of-the-moment Quinones trying his luck from range before Roberto Alvarado saw a cross-shot repelled by the South African stopper.
The one-way traffic showed no signs of relenting as half-time approached, and Mexico came within inches of deservedly doubling their lead, as Quinones swept a side-footed effort agonisingly against the base of the post.
Grateful to only be one goal behind, South Africa knew a positive start to the second period was needed; however, Hugo Broos’ side found themselves reduced to 10 men in the 49th minute when Sithole was dismissed for fouling Brian Gutierrez as the last man.
Armed with the numerical advantage, as well as all the momentum, Mexico ramped up the pressure with time heading into the final half-hour, and a second goal duly arrived, as Jimenez capped off his first start in a World Cup with his first-ever goal at a finals, converting at the back post from Alvarado’s inviting delivery.
That all but ended the match as a contest, and Bafana Bafana’s misery was compounded late on when substitute Themba Zwane was shown a straight red card for an altercation with Alvarado.
South Africa looked to avoid further damage with nine men in the closing stages, and those hopes were aided by Mexico picking up a red card themselves, with Cesar Montes harshly sent off for a cynical foul on Khuliso Mudau.
Despite that footnote, El Tri saw out their victory, picking up a valuable three points to lay down an early marker in Group A.
