Opening Game

 

The 2026 World Cup has started after one of the host nations, MEXICO from Group A, began their World Cup campaign at the Estadio Aztec stadium in Mexico City against South Africa.

At the start of the first half it was all Mexico and nearly had a goal in the first couple of minutes. But it did not take them long to go in front with a goal in the 9th minute from Julian Quinones, from a South African defensive error. The first yellow card of the tournament goes to South Africa’s Teboho Mokoena just after 17 minutes of play. Mexico could of gone three up but for good goalkeeping and woodwork denied Mexico to up their goal tally. South Africa did have a couple of moments, but no match for the Mexicans.

Early in the second half, Mexico received a free-kick right on the edge of the penalty area, but failed to do anything of it. The first red card of the World Cup goes to South Africa’s Yaya Sithole in the 49^th minutes. But Mexico scored their second goal in the 67th minute from Raul Jimenez. Ten Men South Africa in real trouble from that point onwards. Another red card for South Africa (Themba Zwane) in the 84th minute via VAR, and they went down to 9 men. Mexico then picked up their first red card in the 90+2 minutes for Cesar Montes. After a scrappy second half, Mexico win their first game 2-0 and top of the group.

Mexico have picked up a total of 5 votes this time round which equals their highest amount of votes in Germany 2006. This is there 8^th appearance out of 10 with Golden Goals and their average goals total is 3.6 goals per tournament at present. The best that Mexico have done in the World Cup is the Quarter-Finals in Mexico in 1970 and again in Mexico in 1986. In the last World cup in Qatar 2022, they finished in the group stages.