Sports
Mexico – South Africa: Perfect start for the hosts in 2026 World Cup
All eyes were on Mexico and the Estadio Azteca as the 2026 World Cup kicked off Thursday. El Tri dominated South Africa in the Group A opener with two goals but it was two red cards for Bafana Bafana that sealed the hosts’ victory. Read our blog to see how the match unfolded.
Official lineups for Mexico – South Africa
Mexique : Rangel – Sanchez, Montes, Vasquez, Gallardo – Lira – Gutierrez, Alvarado, Fidalgo, Quinones – Jimenez
Afrique du Sud : Williams – Sibisi, Okon, Mbokazi – Mudau, Mokoena, Sithole, Adams, Modiba – Rayners, Foster
South Africa bring the energy
Bafana Bafana arrived on the pitch dancing to warm up.
First yellow card for Bafana Bafana
Mokoena is shown a yellow card for a late challenge on Mexico’s Fidalgo
South Africa seek the opening
Bafana Bafana keep the ball moving, looking for openings and swift counter-attacking opportunities.
Bafana Bafana finally threaten
Foster rises well and gets a clear header on goal, but his effort goes wide of Rangel’s post.
Dominant opener
The hosts cruise to a 2-0 victory against nine-man South Africa. A statement win in the World Cup’s curtain-raiser.
That’s all from the Azteca. We’re back tomorrow at 9pm ET for USA-Paraguay. Here is our recap.
The hosts cruise to a 2-0 victory against nine-man South Africa. A statement win in the World Cup’s curtain-raiser.
7 minutes of added time
Another red card for South Africa
What an awful evening for Bafana Bafana… Themba Zwane is sent off after a VAR review. South Africa now has just nine players on the pitch.
Midfield becomes a battleground
Loose tackles and mounting fouls in the centre of the pitch. The game is getting rough around the edges, and some challenges are verging on reckless…
Tactical shuffles in the final stretch
Mexico makes three changes: Vega, Gonzalez and Alvarez enter the fray. South Africa responds with Appollis and Makgopa coming on.
Another caution for Bafana Bafana
Sibisi is shown yellow for a blatant challenge.
Cooling break over
Tme for another cooling break
Gooooooal
Roberto Alvarado delivers a pinpoint cross, and Raul Jimenez rises to meet it with a firm header into the bottom left. Mexico 2, South Africa 0.
Adams replaces Zwane
Foster leaves the pitch, Mbatha comes on
Tough time for Bafana Bafana
With a man advantage, Mexico is making life increasingly difficult for South Africa.
Sithole’s night is over
The South African midfielder receives a straight red card for a reckless tackle on Gutierrez.
Second half underway
For the third time in its history, Mexico’s iconic Azteca Stadium will host the opening match of the World Cup on Thursday at 3pm ET as Mexico take on South Africa in the first of the tournament’s 104 matches.
Bafana Bafana and El Tri faced each other in the opening match of the 2010 World Cup, drawing 1-1 in Johannesburg. South Africa’s most recent major tournament ended in January when they were knocked out by Cameroon in the Africa Cup of Nations round of 16.
Mexico are unbeaten in their last eight matches, equalling their longest undefeated run heading into a World Cup and giving Javier Aguirre’s side a timely boost in confidence ahead of the tournament. More than 80,000 fans are expected to pack the renovated Azteca Stadium for the opening match in what promises to be a festive atmosphere.
The match will be preceded by a 15-minute opening ceremony featuring, among others, Colombian superstar Shakira, who will perform the World Cup anthem “Dai Dai” alongside Nigerian singer Burna Boy.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP, AP and Reuters)
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