Mexico cruises past South Africa in World Cup 2026 opener
Mexico opened the FIFA World Cup 2026 with a confident 2-0 victory over South Africa in Group A, delivering a strong statement in the tournament’s opening match, Qazinform News Agency reports.
Julian Quinones scored the tournament’s opening goal, though he narrowly missed a second before halftime, hitting the post.
South Africa’s hopes suffered a major setback when Yaya Sithole received a red card for a foul on Brian Gutierrez just outside the penalty area, leaving his team a man down.
Mexico capitalized on the advantage, with Raul Jimenez doubling the lead with a close-range header, securing a decisive victory.
17-year-old Gilberto Mora made history as the youngest player to represent Mexico at a World Cup, breaking the previous record set by 18-year-old Manuel Rosas in 1930.
The next opening ceremonies for the 2026 World Cup are scheduled to continue on June 12 in Canada at Toronto Stadium, featuring the Group B match between Canada and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and in the United States at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, ahead of the Group D clash between the United States and Paraguay.
Beyond the opening matches, a major storyline of the 2026 World Cup is the race for the tournament’s best-player title.
Earlier, Qazinform News Agency reported that the FIFA World Cup 2026 officially kicked off on Friday with a grand opening ceremony in Mexico City, where Colombian superstar Shakira performed the tournament’s official anthem.