Mexico down South Africa in three red card match to open World Cup

After two goals and three red cards, Mexico and South Africa kicked off the 2026 FIFA World Cup with plenty of fireworks at Mexico City Stadium.

El Tri defeated South Africa, 2-0, with goals by Julian Quinones and Raul Jimenez. In front of a sell-out home crowd, Mexico picked up its first three points of the tournament and matched the energy of the environment. Meanwhile, South Africa will be without two players in the next match of the group, and Mexico will be without key center back Cesar Montes. 

Mexico meets the moment

Complete with an opening ceremony that featured World Cup anthem queen Shakira and legendary Mexican rock band Mana, all the pomp and circumstance couldn’t stop Mexico from stamping their flag in the tournament. 

There were natural opening game jitters, though you wouldn’t assume that based on Julian Quinones goal in the opening 10 minutes. Despite the quick start, the game did settle in stretches, with South Africa’s five-back forcing Mexico into some decision-making that was either too late or misjudged. Still, the early goal lifted some pressure off the shoulders of the co-hosts.

He led all Mexico players in the match in total shots (five), successful dribbles (five), and earned player of the match honors. No other Mexico player made more line-breaking passes in the final third (five) or behind the defensive line (two) than Quiñones. His goal was a historic goal for the region, marking the first time a Concacaf player scored the first goal in a single edition of the FIFA World Cup.

Raul Jimenez cemented three points for El Tri in the second half. An emotional tally for his first-ever World Cup goal at age 35, it came nearly five years after fracturing his skull and suffering a traumatic brain injury, the long-time striker was visibly emotional following his header and pointed to the sky in honor of his late father, who passed away in March. At 35 years and 37 days, Jimenez is now the oldest player to score on his first FIFA World Cup start.

There will be an emphasis on the squad not being able to convert more of their chances, especially as they had a two-player advantage at one point in the game. But getting an important three points in the group was the main objective achieved for the squad for now. 

Another test for El Tri

Mexico’s head coach, Javier Aguirre, and his staff will immediately be put to the adjustment test with Cesar Montes officially unavailable for the next game against South Korea. The roster already had question marks around and was already thin at center back. Edson Alvarez could be an option, though the dual defensive midfielder is just beginning to build his minutes following his return from injury. 

It’ll be an even bigger test for the group in Guadalajara on June 18. South Korea is a much different side compared to South Africa, with more tournament experience and more technical quality than some other squads. The two teams last played to a 2-2 draw back in September and both operate differently in World Cup settings. 

The Taegeuk Warriors can sometimes operate in a back three, which keeps them fluid in attack, and if there’s a clear weakness in Mexico’s backline, why not target it? You add a top player in Son Heung-min, with the added storyline of this likely being his final World Cup, chasing a scoring record for South Korea and the pressure just gets higher for El Tri at home.

What is El Tri’s ceiling in this tournament?

An opening win is great, but stretches of the game are maybe where some deeper questions lie. Mexico’s 16 total shots against South Africa ended with four attempts on target and two goals to close out the game. The group will likely go back over the tape and notice some of the indecisiveness out of the back that may have led to slower momentum and fewer build-ups for attacking sequences.

The victory tells us a lot, but a bigger picture is still developing. Mexico’s attacking line looks stronger with Jimenez and Quinones after years of wondering if Santiago Gimenez was the answer. Brian Gutierrez and Roberto Alvarado were good supporting players, with Alvarado assisting Quinones opening goal, and Gutierrez drawing the foul that sent off the first of South Africa’s two red-carded players.

We even got a glimpse of the future with 17-year-old Gilberto Mora making his World Cup debut, the youngest player ever to debut for Mexico, and in a way that didn’t immediately pile an entire country’s hopes and dreams upon a teenager. 

Had it not been for some goalkeeping brilliance by South Africa’s Ronwen Williams, then maybe the ceiling would have been smashed through. For now, they are at least a stairway to heaven, and maybe Mexico can soar like alebrijes in a dream.