Mexico defeats South Africa in World Cup opener at Estadio Azteca after scoring in ninth minute

The archetypal of 104 World Cup matches was won by the state that hosted the commencement of the tournament.

Mexico took down South Africa, 2-0, successful Mexico City aft Estadio Azteca played big to the World Cup opening ceremonies.

Mexico was the amended squad from the jump, scoring successful the ninth infinitesimal aft already having 2 country kicks.

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Raul Jimenez celebrates with teammates aft scoring Mexico's 2nd extremity during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group A lucifer against South Africa astatine Mexico City Stadium connected June 11, 2026. (Hector Vivas/FIFA via Getty Images)

A walk from South Africa's goalie got distant from a teammate and was picked disconnected by Erik Lira. The shot was past taken by Julián Quiñones, who took conscionable 1 dribble toward the mediate of the tract and ripped a right-footed changeable into the net, putting the assemblage into a frenzy.

Hopes of a South African comeback took a deed erstwhile Yaya Sithole was fixed a reddish paper successful the 50th infinitesimal for bringing Mexico's Brian Gutiérrez connected what would person been a breakaway.

From past on, South Africa was playing with 10 men, making it an adjacent larger upland to climb.

Mexico players applaud fans during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group A lucifer betwixt Mexico and South Africa astatine Mexico City Stadium successful Mexico City connected June 11, 2026. (Angel Delgado/Getty Images)

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The dagger came successful the 67th minute, erstwhile Raúl Jiménez scored a header connected a cleanable transverse from Roberto Alvarado, making it a 2-0 game. Playing successful his 4th World Cup, it was Jiménez's archetypal extremity successful tourney history, and helium could not assistance but fto retired his emotions.

South Africa was deed with 1 much reddish paper successful the 84th minute, and Mexico was fixed 1 successful the 92nd minute. South Africa's Sithole and Themba Zwane, arsenic good arsenic Mexico's César Montes, volition each miss their adjacent games against Czechia successful Atlanta and Korea successful Guadalajara, respectively.

In World Cup history, Mexico has present won 15 of the 23 matches successful which it has scored first, drafting 5 and losing three.

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Estadio Azteca, renamed Mexico City Stadium for the tournament, held the tournament's opening ceremonies, during which all 48 competing countries were represented. FIFA President Gianni Infantino was successful the gathering with the FIFA World Cup Trophy.

Mexico's guardant Julian Quinones celebrates scoring his team's archetypal extremity during the 2026 World Cup Group A lucifer against South Africa astatine Mexico City Stadium successful Mexico City connected June 11, 2026. (Rodrigo Oropeza/AFP via Getty Images)

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Mexico is coming disconnected a disappointing travel to Qatar, arsenic it was the archetypal clip since 1978 that it competed successful a World Cup and did not marque it to the knockout stage. Aside from its prohibition successful 1990 and not qualifying successful 1982, it had made it past the radical signifier successful 9 consecutive World Cups it played in.

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