On Thursday, June 11, the 2026 World Cup began in Mexico City at the Azteca Stadium, with Mexico and South Africa playing in the opening match.

Led by Javier Aguirre, the Mexican team confidently defeated their African rival, finishing the match with a score of 2:0.

The Mexican national team managed to quickly open the scoring thanks to the efforts of Julian Quinones, who in the ninth minute picked up the ball near the penalty area after an error by the South African defender and goalkeeper, shooting through the center under the goalkeeper and scoring the first goal in the current world tournament. The hosts continued to control the game, but the score remained the same before the break.

At the beginning of the second half, the South African team made it difficult for themselves, remaining with ten men. Yaya Sitole received a straight red card for bringing down Brian Gutierrez in front of his own penalty area, who was running towards the goal. The Mexicans took advantage of their numerical advantage midway through the second half when Raul Jimenez headed in a cross from Roberto Alvarado to double the score..

At the end of the match, the opponents exchanged mutual direct deletions. First, in the 84th minute, Temba Zwane left the field for hitting an opponent in the face, and in stoppage time, one of the Mexican players, Cesar Montes, was sent off for a flagrant foul against a South African opponent.

In the second match of Group A in the first round, South Korea will meet the Czech Republic.

Statistics of the match Mexico - South Africa of the 1st round of the group stage of the 2026 World Cup Mexico - South Africa 2:0 Goals: Quinones, 9, Jimenez, 67 Expected goals (xG): 1. 41 - 0. 08 Ball possession: 61% - 39% Shots: 16 - 3 Shots on target: 4 - 2 Corners: 3 - 1 Fouls: 12 - 11 Mexico: Rangel - Reyes, Montes, Vazquez, Gallardo - Lira (E. Alvarez, 76) - Alvarado, Gutierrez (L. Chavez, 66), Fidalgo (Mora, 66), Quinones (Vega, 79) - Jimenez (A. Gonzalez, 76).

South Africa: Williams - Mudau, Okon, Sibisi, Mbokazi, Modiba (Appollis 76) - Mokoena, Sitole, Adams (Zwane 62) - Foster (Mbatha 56), Reyners (Makgopa 76).

Bookings: Gutierrez - Mokoena, Sibisi.

Removals: Sitole 49, Zwane 84 - Montes 90+2.

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