Mexico 2–0 South Africa

Julián Quiñones is the first player from a CONCACAF nation to score the opening goal of a World Cup tournament.

Mexico are unbeaten in eight World Cup matches at the Estadio Azteca, the second-longest unbeaten run by any team at a single World Cup venue behind Brazil at Estadio Jalisco.

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.

Mexico have won a World Cup opener for the first time, at the sixth attempt after failing to win their first match in 1930, 1950, 1958, 1970 and 2010.

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.

César Montes is the first Mexico player sent off at a World Cup since Luis Ernesto Pérez against Portugal in 2006.

The 2026 World Cup opened with three red cards in one match; the entire 2022 tournament had only four red cards across 64 games.

South Africa are the first team with two players sent off in a World Cup match since Portugal and the Netherlands both had two dismissals in 2006.

Edson Álvarez made his 100th appearance for Mexico in their 2026 World Cup opener against South Africa.