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FIFA World Cup 2026: Three red cards notwithstanding, co-host Mexico makes a victorious start
FIFA World Cup got officially underway after an impressive and colorful opening ceremony at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.
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Prabhjot Paul Singh - Fri, 12, Jun 2026
- 03:23 EDT
- 30
FIFA World Cup / X@fifamedia
The FIFA World Cup 2026 got off to a “red start” as co-host Mexico defeated South Africa 2-0 in a game marred by three red cards, including two to the losers.
The second co-host, Canada, brims with confidence, hoping for its first-ever World Cup win when it takes on Bosnia and Herzegovina in its opener in Toronto tomorrow.
In fact, the FIFA World Cup got officially underway after an impressive and colorful opening ceremony at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.
The hosts capped the start of the biggest sporting event after the Summer Olympics with a galvanizing 2-0 win over South Africa in a chippy first match of the tournament that has already come to be known as the most expensive World Cup ever, featuring 48 teams and 104 matches.
Excited fans in Canada, looking for their first-ever World Cup win, got their first look at the official fan zones in Vancouver and Toronto ahead of the home team's first match tomorrow, though Toronto's was later closed due to severe weather.
The Canadian coach dismissed inclement weather impacting the game tomorrow, saying that his team was confident of making a winning start at home against a tough Bosnia and Herzegovina side.
Canada faces Bosnia and Herzegovina in Toronto at 3 p.m. ET on Friday.
After taking a comfortable 2-0 lead, Mexico had an unsavory end to a sweet start when it received its first red card. Intriguingly, its opponent played a major portion of the game with a depleted side. After a red card in the first half, the South Africans got another in the second to finish the game with a 2-0 defeat and nine players. The winners, however, had a red-card blemish at the end of an otherwise spotless, celebratory afternoon. The local fans were jubilant as their team got off to a great start in this tournament.
The Mexicans fully deserved the win, registering 60% possession and an eye-popping 16 shots on goal to South Africa's three. They could have — and maybe should have — scored more than two.
South Africa put up a fight but looked a little nervous in defense and could barely get any good shots on Mexico's goal. The first red card in the 50th minute effectively ended its hopes in this match. The team will have to pick itself up before its next match against Czechia on June 18.
Next up for Mexico is a tougher test against South Korea, also on June 18.
In the end, the game was getting messy. But Mexico's César Montes could have a reason to complain about that red card, as he made no attempt to play the ball while stopping a surging run by South Africa's Khuliso Mudau.
It was a God-sent opportunity for South Africa, with a good chance to pull a goal back with a free kick just outside the box, but it came to nothing.
The South Africans had every reason to blame their ill-fated luck this afternoon. They were down to nine men on the pitch after a second red card.
Initially, it did not look like there was much in Themba Zwane's challenge on Mexico's Roberto Alvarado. But VAR informed the referee to have a second look, and it was deemed that Zwane caught Alvarado in the face.
Zwane was sent off, and this match was all but over for South Africa.
Mexico made its advantage count as Raúl Jiménez peeled away from two South African defenders to nod in a Roberto Alvarado cross. It turned out to be a superb, well-taken goal.
Mexico was firmly in control of the game as the South Africans started concentrating on their defense to avoid conceding any more goals for the rest of the match.
The afternoon just got a whole lot more difficult for South Africa. Mexico's Brian Gutiérrez was through on goal but was clipped and sent tumbling by South African defender Sphephelo S'Miso Sithole. He had a red card waved at him and was sent off.
The only good news for South Africa was that the foul occurred just outside the box, so no penalty was given — and Mexico's attempt to score from the free kick came to nothing. But the South Africans had to play out 40 minutes with one man fewer.
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