Mexico v South Africa
Play By Play
A truly remarkable opening game at the 2026 World Cup comes to an end as 10-man Mexico beat nine-man South Africa 2-0! The co-hosts were quick out of the blocks, with Jimenez seeing an early shot saved before Quinones slotted in the opener after nine minutes, profiting from a Sithole mistake. The winger then struck the post before the break, but the second half really saw the game come to life. A Williams error almost let Gutierrez in 35 seconds after the restart, and Sithole was sent off just three minutes later, bringing down Gutierrez on the edge of the box as the last man. Jimenez then scored his first World Cup goal in the 67th minute, nodding in Alvarado's cross from close range. South Africa tried to threaten an unlikely comeback, but in doing so, received their second straight red, with Zwane deemed to have slapped Alvarado in the face while trying to shrug him off with six minutes of the 90 remaining. But the drama wasn't over, as Montes was given his marching orders in the second minute of stoppage time for denying Madau a goalscoring opportunity. Mexico earned the first win of the tournament, going top of Group A ahead of South Korea's match against Czechia, which takes place in Guadalajara in a matter of hours. The co-hosts were deserving winners, though, racking up 1.41 xG to South Africa's 0.07, and have given themselves a brilliant platform to build on. They face South Korea next, with Czechia the next opponents for South Africa. That's all for today, thanks for joining us!
FULL-TIME: MEXICO 2-0 SOUTH AFRICA.
Surprisingly, this is not the first World Cup game to see three straight reds shown. The last time it happened, South Africa were also involved, when they played Denmark in 1998 – Bafana Bafana had one to the Danes' two on that occasion.
It's a waste of a free-kick, really, as South Africa take it short instead of whipping a cross into the box. Mudau takes a heavy touch, and it's an easy one for Mexico to get clear.
MEXICO ARE DOWN TO 10! We've had three red cards in the 2026 World Cup opener! South Africa broke in numbers and had four players on three as Mudau raced towards the box. Montes gets across and clips him just outside the box, and the referee is quick to go to his pocket to get another red card out for denying a goalscoring opportunity!
We're into seven added minutes at the end of the game, and when Alvarado can't find any space down the right, Mexico switch it out to the opposite flank. Vega gets caught in possession cutting inside, and that's another chance wasted.
Mexico are camped out in South Africa's half as they continue to search for another goal. There are eight yellow shirts between them and the goal, though, and they'll have to be clever to find an opening.
Credit to South Africa, they're still attempting to get upfield when they win back possession. But Mexico never give up the ball for long, and they know how important a third goal could prove to be in these last few minutes.
It really has been a second half to forget for South Africa in their first World Cup game for 16 years. This is the first time a team has received two red cards in a World Cup match since Portugal and Netherlands both got two red cards apiece in the 2006 round of 16.
SOUTH AFRICA ARE DOWN TO NINE! There is another red card! At first glance, it didn't look like there was a lot in there as Alvarado stepped across the substitute, who did seem to catch him in the face as he tried to get past him. But it's in the rules that that kind of contact is violent conduct, and South Africa have dug themselves into an even deeper hole.
After a bit of confusion, the referee goes across to the pitchside monitor and is told to have another look at that challenge on Alvarado. It appears that in his attempt to shrug off the winger, Zwade caught him in the face, and he could be in trouble here...
Alvarado is on the floor after getting in the way of South Africa's attack, but the referee allows play to carry on. That works in Bafana Bafana's favour as Appollis is able to get a shot away, but it's another easy save for Rangel.
Mexico also have one last roll of the dice, taking off their other goalscorer, Quinones, for Vega.
And Modiba, who was struggling with an injury in the build-up to the tournament, goes off for Appollis.
South Africa's final changes sees another switch to their forward line as Rayners is replaced by Makgopa.
There's also a standing ovation for Jimenez, who is the oldest goalscorer (35 years, 37 days) at a World Cup since Yahya Golmohammadi (35y 84d) for Iran against Mexico in 2006. Gonzalez is his replacement.
There's another double change for Mexico here as Alvarez comes on to make his 100th appearance for Mexico, and what a stage to make it on. He replaces Lira, who set up Quinones' opener.
Moments after a perfectly timed tackle to dispossess Jimenez, Sibisi does find himself in the book after stepping in slightly late to tackle Quinones.
Jimenez looks like he's through on goal once again but it is brilliant defending from Sibisi as he gets himself in front of the striker to block his path into the box. The crowd want a penalty, but that was a clean tackle.,
South Africa get us back under way from the restart, but Mexico's confidence is through the roof, spurred on by the raucous home support. The hosts are back on the front foot quickly enough.
The end of Jimenez's celebrations lead nicely into the second hydration break of the game. No surprises that Mexico's win probability is now 99.6%, with 10-men South Africa given a 0% chance of getting three points. Their hopes of snatching a draw sit at 0.3%.
Alvarado has been a real threat down the right throughout the game, with South Africa having no answer to him, and he makes the most of his space this time to get an assist.
GOAL! Jimenez scores his first World Cup goal on his first start at the tournament! Quinones does well to keep hold of the ball as it's behind him, but he does well to get it out to Alvarado on the right. It's an inch-perfect delivery onto Jimenez's head, and he nods it past Williams before embarking on an emotional celebration! 2-0 Mexico!
And there's a World Cup debut for the youngest player at the tournament. At 17 years and 240 days, Mora is actually the sixth-youngest player to feature at a tournament after he comes on for Fidalgo.
Mexico are making that double change now. Gutierrez has been a handful in the final third, having four shots, but he's replaced by Luis Chavez.
