The co-hosts won the opening World Cup match at the Azteca as three players were sent off — two for South Africa and one for Mexico

Thursday's 2026 World Cup opener between Mexico and South Africa made history with three players seeing red cards and being sent off. Neither team finished Mexico's 2-0 win over South Africa with 11 players on the field.

Mexico’s misery in World Cup opening games was finally ended as they secured a 2-0 win over South Africa at the Estadio Azteca in a match featuring three red cards. The co-hosts had been involved in seven matches which either alone,

MEXICO CITY — Mexico started the 2026 World Cup off exactly as it hoped, scoring on either side of halftime to beat South Africa 2-0 in a match dominated by the home side. El Tri had the lead after just nine minutes,

The largest World Cup in tournament history kicks off with co-host Mexico taking on South Africa in the opening match

After years of anticipation, the 2026 World Cup finally gets underway on Thursday, with an intriguing opening fixture in Group A between co-hosts Mexico and South Africa. Despite hosting the tournament on two previous occasions,

Mexico and South Africa did not get out of their opening World Cup match without some drama. South Africa picked up not one, but two red cards in the opening match at Estadio Azteca, as both Sphephelo Sithole and Themba Zwane were shown straight reds in the second half.

In a match of very low technical quality, Mexico opened the World Cup at home with a 2-0 victory over a weak South African team