Julián Quiñones is the first player from a CONCACAF nation to score the opening goal of a World Cup tournament.
Mexico2–0South Africa
Stats
The 2026 opener is the first World Cup opening match with three dismissals and joins the short list of World Cup matches with at least three red cards.
South Africa-Mexico is only the seventh World Cup match with at least three red cards; only Portugal-Netherlands in 2006 had more, with four.
South Africa are only the second team to have two players sent off in a World Cup opening match, after Cameroon against Argentina in 1990.
Gilberto Mora is the youngest Mexican player to appear at a World Cup, aged 17 years and 240 days, taking the mark from Manuel Rosas in 1930.
Match Events
9'Julián Quiñones
1–0
49'Sphephelo Sithole
67'Raúl Jiménez
2–0
84'Themba Zwane
90+2'César Montes
Match stats
Lineups
Mexico
South Africa
- 1Raúl Rangel
- 3César Montes
- 5Johan Vásquez
- 15Israel Reyes
- 23Jesús Gallardo
- 6Érik Lira↓76'
- 8Álvaro Fidalgo↓66'
- 26Brian Gutiérrez↓66'
- 9Raúl Jiménez↓76'
- 16Julián Quiñones↓79'
- 25Roberto Alvarado
- 1Ronwen Williams
- 6Aubrey Modiba↓77'
- 14Mbekezeli Mbokazi
- 19Nkosinathi Sibisi
- 20Khuliso Mudau
- 21Ime Okon
- 4Teboho Mokoena
- 13Sphephelo Sithole
- 23Jayden Adams↓61'
- 9Lyle Foster↓56'
- 15Iqraam Rayners↓76'
Substitutes
- 4Edson Álvarez↑76'
- 19Gilberto Mora↑66'
- 24Luis Chávez↑66'
- 10Alexis Vega↑79'
- 14Armando González↑76'
- 5Thalente Mbatha↑56'
- 11Themba Zwane↑61'
- 7Oswin Appollis↑77'
- 17Evidence Makgopa↑76'