Mexico 2-0 South Africa
World Cup 2026 is off and running, and it kicked off with a superb performance from hosts Mexico who beat nine-man South Africa 2-0 at a bouncing Azteca Stadium.
In a blistering start Julian Quinones gave El Tri a ninth-minute lead and, after South Africa went down to ten men when Yaya Sithole was red-carded, the old warrior Raul Jimenez scored his first-ever World Cup finals goal to make it two. A late red card for Themba Zwane left the Bafana Bafana in tatters and now they must reset. Mexico also ended up with ten men, by the way, as Cesar Montes picked up an injury-time red card.
This was a consummate display from Javier Aguirre’s Mexico who have given their fans a night to remember and put a marker down for the rest of the tournament. South Africa were outclassed but, in fairness, they will target matches against Czech Republic and South Korea to get their campaign up and running.
Highlights of the game
Opening games can be cagey, but we almost had a goal with just five minutes on the clock. Ismail Reyes found space on the right and pulled the ball back and Raul Jimenez, in his fourth World Cup at the grand old age of 35, hit a first-time bullet which Ronwen Williams saved brilliantly.
But the historic opener of the 23rd World Cup finals came just four minutes later, and it was a South African howler which let El Tri in. Williams passed the ball out, but Yaya Sithole took a terrible touch and Erik Lira robbed him of the ball, which fell to Quinones and he fired low and hard into the net to take the roof off the Azteca Stadium.
But poor Sithole won’t be looking at tonight’s World Cup 2026 betting highlights in a hurry.
Burnley forward Lyle Foster scored in South Africa’s goal in a warm-up against Jamaica and he had the Bafana Bafana’s first effort on goal, meeting a deep cross from Mebekezeli Mbokazi and directing his header from 15 yards just wide. But Mexico should have been out of sight by the break. First Williams saved brilliantly to deny Jimenez again and, moments later Quinones saw his shot cannon back off the upright and the two teams went into the break with the Mexicans leading 1-0.
The second half started as badly as the first for South Africa and the nightmare continued for Sithole as Mexico broke through and Brian Gutierrez got on the wrong side of the African midfielder who brought him down on the edge of the penalty area and received his marching orders. The free kick came to nothing as Jimenez fired his shot into the defensive wall.
But then Jimenez’ moment came, midway through the second half when he met a ball in from the right and headed majestically into the net. It was an emotional moment for the legendary striker who scored his 46th international goal but his first in the finals.
It was a sad night for South Africa who had Zwane harshly sent off after a rather unnecessary VAR intervention; he committed a foul but it was barely a yellow…in my view. Anyhow, VAR chipped in again in injury time and sent Montes off for a clumsy lunge.
Key statistics
Mexico came into the game eight unbeaten and had won three on the bounce, and the SBOTOP odds said they would make it nine and four and so they did in some style.
Quinones’ goal was the quickest in an opening game at the World Cup since 2006
Midfielder Edson Alvarez made his 100th appearance for El Tri while, in the second half Mexico brought on the exciting 17-year-old Gilberto Mora, the youngest player at these finals, and half the age of Jimenez!
What’s next?
The Bafana Bafana are in action again in one week when they meet the Czech Republic on Thursday 18th June, and 24 hours later Mexico play against the Korea Republic. Mexico wouldn’t claim to be among the very top contenders for the World title, but they do rank as a dark horse to be taken deadly seriously. The World Cup 2026 betting odds rank El Tri as tenth favourites so they will be targeting a quarter-final place and see where that takes them.
In the meantime, Group A continues on Friday as the Republic of Korea and Czech come face to face, and then co-hosts Canada open up Group B when they welcome Bosnia and Herzegovina to the Toronto Stadium. Saturday brings in the third hosts as the USA face Paraguay in a testing opener for Mauricio Pochettino’s men, and that night Brazil get their tournament underway with a mouth-watering clash with Africa’s finest, Morocco, to bring in the crowds.
We’re finally up and running folks and tonight belongs to Mexico and Jimenez.
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