Mexico 2-0 South Africa: El Tri cruise to victory in 2026 World Cup opener

Mexico were worthy winners at the Estadio Azteca in front of over 80,000 fans.

There will be parties across Mexico tonight after Julian Quinones early goal set them on their way and veteran striker Raul Jimenez made it 2-0 with an emotional first-ever World Cup goal of his own.

Two red cards for South Africa, and a late red for Mexico, means we needed up with more sending offs than goals in the tournament opener. Although two of the red cards did seem very harsh.

Still, there’s no debating that Mexico were the deserved winners of this game and they’ve put themselves in a great position in Group A.

Cesar Montes is shown a straight red card for taking out a South African player who charged towards the box.

The Mexican defender was the last man on that side of the box, but that still seems a bit harsh.

So, Mexico finish the game with 10 players and South Africa have nine.

We’ve had more red cards than goals in the opening game of the World Cup...

The referee is asked by VAR to go to the pitch-side monitor.

Themba Zwane catches a Mexico midfielder in the face with his left hand.

Nobody really saw it in real-time.

The referee announces that he is sending off Zwane and South Africa are down to nine players to finish the game.

Zwane can’t believe it. It seems a little harsh.

Mexico made a double change just before that Raul Jimenez goal to make it 2-0 and teenager Gilberto Mora got a huge ovation from the crowd.

Mora, just 17, is a superstar in the making and the Club Tijuana midfielder is pushing hard to start in this team.

Luis Chavez is also on with Mexico’s midfield duo of Brian Gutierrez and Alvaro Fidalgo off.

They both played really well and Mora and Chavez will now aim to keep the tempo high and win the ball back high up the pitch in the closing stages.

Edson Alvarez and Armando Gonzalez are both on now too, with Raul Jimenez and Erik Lira coming off.

Mexico’s fans are loving the entrance of Chivas Guadalajara’s Gonzalez, who sprints onto the pitch. He was in tears during the national anthem.

Raul Jimenez heads home at the back post to put Mexico 2-0 up!

Jimenez is in tears as he celebrates. Lovely moment.

The ball is played in to Jimenez initially and he flicks it on to Quinones. He plays it wide and a cross from Roberto Alvarado to the back post is perfect for Jimenez to head home.

After all Jimenez has been through with the terrible fractured skull he suffered in 2020 while playing for Wolves at Arsenal, this is a moment he fully deserves.

Mexico lead 2-0 heading into the final 20 minutes plus stoppage time and they are grabbing a big win which is so huge in this format, as it will likely go a long way to them reaching the knockout rounds.

Goals for Quinones and Jimenez and a very comfortable win in front of a raucous home crowd is a dream start for co-hosts Mexico.

South Africa are doing their best to keep the ball but Mexico are ready to pounce whenever the chance arrives.

There are just 30 minutes left.

Mexico will be wary of committing too many players forward in search of a second goal, but they know how great of a position they are in now.

Oh no, South Africa are down to 10 players and that is a very clear red card for Sphephelo Sithole.

Brian Gutierrez is played through on the counter and he’s clean through.

Sithole tries to get back and Gutierrez goes across him and goes down right on the edge of the box.

That means Sithole is shown a red card and after giving the ball away for Mexico’s goal to make it 1-0, he has had a game to forget.

From the free kick Mexico’s Raul Jimenez drills it into the wall and the rebound is lashed wide. This is going to be a long old second half for South Africa.

Chicago born Brian Gutierrez has made so many great runs from midfield and he should score before the break to make it 2-0.

He surges forward but rushes his shot and scuffs it wide.

Seconds later the whistle goes for half time and that is a well deserved lead for Mexico.

They will be a little disappointed they aren’t at least 2-0 up but Javier Aguirre’s side have swarmed all over South Africa in midfield and attack.

Unless something drastic happens in the second half, all signs point to a big win for Mexico.

A lovely move down the right from Mexico and the ball is flicked in to Julian Quinones by Brian Gutierrez.

He takes the shot early and low and it beats Williams, but the ball comes off the base of the post and back out.

Mexico so close to making it 2-0 and almost a second for Quinones who is causing havoc drifting off that left wing.

Whenever Mexico have had the chance to get on the ball in the final third they’ve been excellent in this first half.

A cross is whipped in and Raul Jimenez gets a slight flick on it but Ronwen Williams makes another superb save to deny Mexico’s number nine.

Jimenez may have been offside, but he didn’t quite get enough contact on the ball.

Ronwen Williams is having a fine game and South Africa have needed their captain to be on top of his game.

If he wasn’t, they could be at least 3-0 down.

A cross is lofted into the box and Lyle Foster is there.

He can’t generate enough power on his header and it drifts harmlessly wide.

Still, South Africa are hanging in there.

Mexico still look very dangerous when they get the ball out wide in the final third but South Africa have slowed down the tempo.

El Tri haven’t really got going again after that hydration break.

The first hydration break of the World Cup is here and South Africa will be delighted they are only 1-0 down.

They have had a couple of breaks and won some free kicks in recent minutes and that has slowed things down.

Mexico couldn’t keep playing at that kind of tempo but Javier Aguirre will generally be delighted with what he’s seen from his side.

El Tri fans are still buzzing after that early Quinones goal after nine minutes. That is the earliest goal in the opening game of a World Cup since 2006.

Julian Quinones has Mexico in dreamland as they are 1-0 up with less than 10 minutes on the clock.

South Africa’s Sithole is caught on the ball on the edge of his own box by Lira and Quinones is in.

He smashes a shot on goal which is too powerful and goes straight through Williams.

Cue incredible celebrations inside the Estadio Azteca, and across all of Mexico.

What a moment!

What a start from Mexico, who have been well on top and they could easily be 1-0 up.

A brilliant cross from Israel Reyes on the right picks out Raul Jimenez in space in the box and the El Tri striker drills it low and the ball seems certain to go in.

But Ronwen Williams gets down low and not only makes the save but also pushes it away from danger.

Jimenez can’t believe it. He thought that was in. Incredible noise from the Mexico fans.

South Africa’s national anthem is up first and it is sung by Tyla. It is wonderfully observed inside the stadium.

Then comes Mexico’s national anthem and it is truly beautiful as Alejandro Fernandez sings it over the mic, without any music. He doesn’t need it.

Close to 80,000 Mexican fans inside the Azteca belt it out and many are in tears. Several players are visibly emotional and the noise is sensational.

What a moment for one of the co-hosts of the 2026 World Cup. Spine-tingling.

The flags of all 48 nations who have qualified for the 2026 men’s World Cup are brought out onto the pitch.

There is plenty going on still ahead of this Mexico vs South Africa game, as FIFA is really going all out with the ceremonial kicking off of this tournament.

Bocelli and Ejae are also on the pitch belting out DNA. Scenes.

By the way, there will be similar ceremonies held in Toronto and Los Angeles tomorrow, as the other co-hosts Canada and the USA will play the opening games of their tournaments.

South Africa go with a 3-5-2 formation with Burnley’s Lyle Foster up top.

Six of their starting 11 play for Mamelodi Sundowns, South Africa’s dominant club team who are the reigning African Champions League champions.

South Africa starting lineup

Williams; Sibisi, Okon, Mbokazi; Mudau, Adams, Sithole, Mokoena, Modiba; Rayners, Foster

Javier Aguirre goes with his usual 4-3-3 system and he has named the Mexico starting lineup for the opening game of the World Cup.

Raul Jimenez leads the line with talented youngster Brian Gutierrez, who was born and raised in Chicago and switched his international allegiance from the U.S. to Mexico in January, starting in midfield.

Julian Quinones and Roberto Alvarado offer plenty of creativity out wide.

Mexico starting lineup

Rangel; Reyes, Montes, Vasquez, Gallardo; Lira; Alvarado, Gutierrez, Fidalgo, Quinones; Jimenez

Dressed in yellow in a nod to her native Colombia, global icon Shakira is out with Burna Boy on the pitch.

A huge roar goes up inside the Estadio Azteca when she appears.

They are performing Dai Dai, the official anthem of the 2026 World Cup, and the tune is pretty catchy.

This is quite something in the Estadio Azteca.

The stage is in the middle of the pitch with a huge World Cup trophy at the center, fireworks are flying around and so many performers are dressed in traditional outfits.

We’ve had so many wonderful musical performances already.

This is incredible. Well done, Mexico City. Well done!

The scenes are magnificent around the stadium and in the streets of Mexico City.

El Tri fans are out celebrating the start of the World Cup and what they hope will be an incredibly long journey on home soil for their team.

Just take a look at some of these photos and videos coming in from across Mexico City as the world watches on.

It’s fair to say hopes are high in Mexico about how El Tri can get on at this World Cup.

They have a pragmatic manager, some great young talent and there is plenty of experience in this side too.

This first game against South Africa gives them a brilliant opportunity to get off to a flying start and Mexico are the heavy favorites to win and top Group A by the end of the day.

Here’s a preview of Mexico vs South Africa, with a score prediction and the latest team news.

The 2026 World Cup opening ceremony takes place in Mexico City from 1:30pm ET, with plenty of star performers and VIP’s in attendance.

Shakira and Burna Boy will perform Dai Dai, the official anthem of the 2026 World Cup, at the opening ceremony, while musicians Alejandro Fernandez, Belinda, Danny Ocean, J Balvin, Ryan Castro, Lila Downs, Los Angeles Azules, Mana and Tyla will also be performing on stage.

Here’s how to watch it all play out, and we will keep you updated with the latest.

How to watch 2026 World Cup opening ceremony live, stream link and start time

Start time, date: 1:30pm ET Thursday (June 11)
Venue: Estadio Azteca — Mexico City, Mexico
TV Channel: Telemundo
Streaming: Stream live on Peacock, en Espanol