World Cup 2026 kicked off with records, goals, and red cards: highlights
12 June 07:15
The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicked off with a bang. In the opening match at the legendary Azteca Stadium in Mexico City, the Mexican national team defeated South Africa. The game was memorable not only for the goals but also for three red cards, which made the tournament’s start truly dramatic. This was reported by "Komersant Ukrainian", citing the match broadcast.
This World Cup has already made history: for the first time, 48 national teams are participating in the final stage, the tournament is being hosted by three countries—the U.S., Canada, and Mexico—and a record 104 matches will be played in total.
In the opening match at the legendary Azteca Stadium in Mexico City, the Mexican national team defeated South Africa 2-0.
The game was one of the most emotional in the history of World Cup opening matches. The teams scored two goals, and the referee showed three red cards. South Africa finished the match with nine players, while Mexico finished with ten after a player was sent off in stoppage time.
How Mexico opened the scoring
Mexico, which automatically qualified for the World Cup as one of the host nations, started the match aggressively and quickly took the lead.
Julian Quiones scored the first goal of the 2026 World Cup as early as the 9th minute. After a defensive error by South Africa, he seized the moment and sent the ball into the opponent’s net.
The early goal allowed the Mexicans to control the flow of the game. The hosts had more possession, attacked more frequently, and created dangerous chances in front of South Africa’s goal. At the same time, South African goalkeeper Ronwen Williams repeatedly saved his team from a heavier defeat.
The teams went into halftime with Mexico leading 1-0.
South Africa was down a man at the start of the second half
The second half began with a major blow for South Africa. In the 49th minute, Sitole received a straight red card for a last-ditch tackle, stopping a dangerous Mexican attack near the penalty area.
After that, Mexico had even more space to attack. The home team gradually increased the pressure and was able to double their lead in the 67th minute.
Roberto Alvarado delivered a cross into the penalty area, and Raúl Jiménez headed the ball into the bottom corner of the net. For Mexico, this goal effectively sealed the match.
Three red cards in the opening match
The match was memorable not only for the goals but also for the fierce competition. South Africa received its second red card in the 84th minute: Temba Zwane was sent off after striking an opponent in the face and a VAR review.
As a result, South Africa finished the match with nine players. According to international sports media, this was the first World Cup opening match to feature three red cards.
A historic start for Mexico
In stoppage time, Mexico’s César Montes also received a red card. Despite this, Mexico calmly secured the victory with a 2-0 score.
The victory over South Africa marked an important start for Mexico at the home World Cup. The national team is participating in the World Cup for the ninth consecutive time, and this time began the tournament as one of the hosts.
The match at the Azteca Stadium took place in front of over 80,000 fans. The stadium created a vibrant atmosphere for the start of the biggest World Cup in history.
The opening ceremony took place before the game, featuring international artists including Shakira, Maná, J Balvin, and others.
Group A: What’s Next
Mexico and South Africa are in Group A alongside the Czech Republic and South Korea. These teams will face off in the other match of the first round of the group stage.
For Mexico, the victory in the opening match was a strong statement of their ambitions at the home tournament. For South Africa, the loss complicates the situation after just the first round, especially given the two red cards and potential personnel losses in upcoming matches.
The 2026 World Cup is the largest in history
The 2026 World Cup is a record-breaker in terms of the number of participants and matches. For the first time in history, 48 national teams are participating in the final stage. The tournament is being held simultaneously in three countries—the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
A total of 104 matches are scheduled for the World Cup. The opening match in Mexico City marked the first major event of the tournament, which will last over a month and determine the new world champion.
