Mexico began the 2026 World Cup with a 2-0 victory over South Africa on June 11, 2026, in Mexico City. The match featured an early goal from Mexico's Julián Quiñones in the eighth minute, following a defensive error by South Africa's Sphephelo S’miso Sithole. Sithole lost possession near the penalty area, which allowed Quiñones to score the first goal of the tournament.
South Africa managed to hold off further goals from Mexico until the second half, when Sithole received a red card five minutes after halftime, leaving South Africa with ten players. Mexico extended its lead in the 67th minute with a header from Raúl Jiménez, finalizing the score at 2-0.
This win positions Mexico favorably in Group A, while South Africa will aim to recover in their next match against Czechia. Sithole's red card and three fouls in the match will result in a suspension for South Africa's upcoming game on Thursday.