2026 World Cup highlights: Mexico cruises to 2-0 victory over South Africa in opener

Barely 10 minutes after Mexico beat South Africa 2-0 in the World Cup opener, torrential rain swept through Mexico City, dampening the tournament’s first celebrations.

The Angel of Independence — the city’s main gathering spot for national celebrations — emptied in minutes, though fans continued celebrating from beneath awnings, tents and other shelters.

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Fans celebrate a goal by Mexico while watching a live broadcast of the World Cup soccer match between Mexico and South Africa at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, Thursday, June 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

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Mexico fans celebrate their team’s first goal against South Africa as they watch a public viewing of the opening match of the World Cup soccer tournament between Mexico and South Africa in San Francisco, Thursday, June 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

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Mexico fans celebrate in the second half during the World Cup Group A soccer match between Mexico and South Africa in Mexico City, Thursday, June 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)

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Mexico fans celebrate their team’s first goal against South Africa as they watch a public viewing of the opening match of the World Cup soccer tournament between Mexico and South Africa in San Francisco, Thursday, June 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

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Mexico’s 2-0 win over South Africa brought joy to El Tri’s army of fans.

“Let’s go for more,” Isidro Martínez, an excited 36-year-old businessman, said after Mexico took the lead early in the first half.

Martínez, his brother, and a friend were among the throngs of people who watched the match at a fan fest in Mexico City’s main square. It was one of 18 in cities throughout Mexico.

At the Angel monument on one of the capital’s main avenues, hundreds of fans watched as Mexico doubled its lead in the second half of a choppy game that ended with three red card ejections, including one for a Mexican player.

“We are going to win my friend, We’re going for it all!” screamed Gerry Legarreta, a 52-year-old American who traveled from the Texas border city of El Paso to celebrate his birthday while watching the game.

In front of him, a group of people, including children, danced in a circle waving the Mexican flag. On the other side of the traffic circle, a band added to the raucous atmosphere by banging drums and playing trumpets.

In Tacuba, an area in northern Mexico City, Irene Rosell Soriano cheered on El Tri from a wheelchair, her legs covered by the Mexican flag.

“These are the final games of my life,” said Rosell Soriano, who at age 92, was probably the oldest fan at that watch party. “And, well, I have to enjoy them.”

The other match on opening day of the World Cup is also in Group A, with South Korea facing Czechia in Guadalajara.

South Korea is a slight favorite.

It’s over. Mexico has defeated South Africa 2-0 in the first game at the World Cup.

Julián Quiñones scored in the ninth minute and Raúl Jiménez in the 67th. Three red cards were handed out in the process, including two to South Africa.

The referee has handed out three red cards in the first game of the World Cup.

The first two went to players from South Africa, and then the third went to Mexico’s César Montes in the final minutes.

Montes extended a leg to knock down Khuliso Mudau.

Scoring a goal in the World Cup is extra special for Raúl Jiménez.

The striker sustained a life-threatening fractured skull in a Premier League game in late November 2020.

Jiménez was playing for Wolverhampton when he clashed heads with Arsenal defender David Luiz.

Jimenez was wheeled off the field wearing an oxygen mask. He then had surgery.

He’s worn protective headgear since then.

South Africa’s Themba Zwane was ejected with a red card for slapping Mexico’s Roberto Alvarado while going toward the goal.

South Africa is down to nine players against 11 for the remainder of the match.

A small group of masked protesters with hammers, metal bars and wooden boards broke through the windows of a car dealership near Azteca Stadium.

Another group tipped a stage onto the metro track to block the main train line from the stadium.

Separately, demonstrators from several universities attempted to push through police lines around the stadium, some throwing stones and other objects at officers who responded with crowd-control devices including explosive noisemakers.

The confrontation escalated into brief clashes around the stadium’s perimeter, with clouds of smoke visible near some access points.

Just before Jiménez scored to give Mexico a 2-0 lead, Mexican fans erupted as 17-year-old Gilberto Mora entered the fray.

Chants of “Mora” rang out around the stadium for the young Mexican star.

Mora is the youngest player to ever take the field for Mexico at a World Cup, breaking Manuel “El Chaquetas” Rosas’ record from 1930. He is also the first 17-year-old to represent El Tri on the world’s biggest stage.

Mora joins Pele and Samuel Eto’o as one of eight 17-year-olds to play at the World Cup.

Raúl Jiménez, who just completed a move from Fulham back to Wolverhampton Wanderers, is the third all-time leading goalscorer for Mexico.

The 35-year-old’s 46th international goal, and first in a World Cup, puts him one step closer to catching Javier “Chicharito” Hernández’s 52 goals.

Mexico and South Africa got their second and final hydration break in the 68th minute, just after Jiménez scored to make it 2-0.

The breaks will be much more needed in hotter games later in the tournament.

Mexico leads South Africa 2-0 after Raúl Jiménez scored on a header in his 67th minute.

Back from a fractured skull, he had several quality chances early in the World Cup opener. With the crowd roaring, he teared up while celebrating his goal.

Despite trailing 1-0 to Mexico, South Africa manager Hugo Broos decided to replace Burnley striker Lyle Foster, who just completed a season in the Premier League, with defensive midfielder Thalente Mbatha.

This change has left South Africa with just one attacking player on the pitch.

With the World Cup’s expanded field, eight teams that finish third in their groups will advance to the knockout stages. Goal difference is the first tiebreaker used to determine which third-place teams move on to the Round of 32.

South Africa was already up against it facing Mexico, a stronger opponent that took a 1-0 lead 8 1/2 minutes in when Julián Quiñones scored on a shot between Ronwen Williams’ legs.

The red card to Sphephelo Sithole early in the second half makes it worse, with South Africa going the rest of the way playing 10 versus 11.

Sphephelo Sithole was given a red card denying a clear goal-scoring opportunity as Brian Gutiérrez looked to be clean through on goal.

It was a Sithole giveaway that led to Mexico’s goal early in the first half.

Sithole is the primary defensive midfielder for Hugo Broos’ squad. He plays his club football in Liga Portugal for C.D. Tondela.

Sithole is nicknamed “Yaya” for his similar physical stature to Ivorian great Yaya Toure.

Because of the red card, Sithole won’t be allowed to play in South Africa’s next match against Czechia.

South Africa’s Sphephelo Sithole was ejected from the World Cup opener after being assessed a red card for interfering with Brian Gutiérrez as he raced in on goal early in the second half.

Raúl Jiménez was unable to score on the resulting free kick for Mexico.

Gutiérrez is the first U.S.-born player to start a World Cup match for Mexico.

The second half has begun with Mexico getting an early shot that sailed just over the crossbar.

Inside a cool Harlem bar, Mexican fans escaped the scorching heat in New York City to cheer their team over cold beers.

The room erupted into a frenzy when Mexico scored its first-half goal. Amidst the sea of green jerseys, one playful Colombian fan joined the celebration, shouting "¡Viva Colombia!” to a round of laughs.

Fans cheered off the Mexican players at halftime, but it was nothing like the thunderous applause they feted them before the match.

Despite leading for most of the first half, Mexican fans inside the stadium seemed irritated whenever South Africa was able to maintain possession, breaking out in whistles and jeers.

Fans began to grumble and throw their hands in the air in frustration as Mexico failed to extend its lead. Attempts to encourage the players by chanting “Mexico” were short-lived and mostly unsuccessful.

A brief moment of possibility ignited the Mexican fans when Jiménez and Quiñones came close to doubling the lead, but frustration sank in again after those chances didn’t find the back of the net.

Even though Mexico took a halftime lead and dominated possession, they only created a couple of scoring chances after the goal.

During several spans of the first half, the team seemed to be satisfied with the score and fans grew anxious in the stands.

Mexico head coach Javier Aguirre, known for being a defensive-minded in his 15-years managing in the Spanish league, will probably remain with the same approach for the second half.

Mexico is up 1-0 on South Africa at halftime, thanks to the World Cup-opening goal by Julián Quiñones in the ninth minute.

Raúl Jiménez was stopped by Ronwen Williams twice and Quiñones hit the right post late in the first half, while Mbekezeli Mbokazi finally got South Africa’s first shot on goal in the 45th minute.

With Mexico pressing late in the first half up 1-0, Raúl Jiménez was stopped by South Africa goalkeeper Ronwen Williams.

Moments later, Julián Quiñones, who scored the first goal, clanked his shot off the right post.

The first game at the World Cup paused 25 minutes in so players from Mexico and South Africa could get a hydration break.

This is new for the event, with a 3-minute hydration break each half. The breaks are especially important given some of the hot temperatures expected throughout the tournament in North America.

Daniel Maldonado, 40, his sister and friend cheered as jets shot over the stadium before kickoff. But they weren’t inside.

They were among groups of Mexicans gathered outside Azteca Stadium who couldn’t afford sky-high World Cup ticket prices but still wanted to feel like they were part of the event.

Donning Mexico jerseys, they waved their flags and cheered along with the masses of fans they could hear inside.

“It’s sad that now it’s just for the rich. It is out of reach for most people. The cost of a ticket is what a worker in Mexico earns in a year.”

Quiñones continues his impressive run of form after scoring 33 goals in the Saudi Pro League this season.

Born in Colombia, Quiñones played much of his career in Mexico before moving to Saudi Arabia, and was expected to be an important figure in attack for “El Tri.”

Mexico got the start they wanted, with Julián Quiñones scoring the first goal of the World Cup after a turnover by South Africa 8 1/2 minutes in.

Just outside the stadium, people have hung posters in the style of the World Cup panini cards. But rather than players, they feature the faces of Mexican politicians reading “narcopolitica identificado,” Spanish for “linked to narco-politics.”

Among them was Rubén Rocha Moya, governor of Sinaloa, a powerful member of Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum’s party who was recently charged by the United States with narcotics importation conspiracy and possession of machine guns. He denies the accusations.

The posters were put up by the National Association of Transportation Companies, known as ANTAC, a prominent industry group known for its ability to mobilize and exert political pressure.

South Africa goalie Ronwen Williams ranged to his right to make a save to stop Raúl on a quality scoring chance just over four minutes into the opening match.

The World Cup is underway, with co-host Mexico and South Africa kicking off at 3:06 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time time.

South Africa’s first starting lineup at a World Cup since hosting the tournament in 2010 will feature a large contingent from the reigning African club champions Mamelodi Sundowns.

Jayden Adams, Ronwen Williams, Iqraam Rayners, Aubrey Modiba, Teboho Mokoena and Khuliso Mudau will bring the “Shoeshine and Piano” style of play to the global stage.

Mamelodi Sundowns spent time in North America last summer, when they competed at the FIFA Club World Cup in the United States.

The Sundowns were eliminated on goal difference in that tournament, but are remembered fondly by fans for their thrilling 4-3 defeat to German club Borussia Dortmund in Ohio.

Salma Hayek Pinault welcomed fans to Mexico City from the middle of the pitch before the flag presentation.

The Oscar-nominated actor known for “Frida,” “Desperado” and the “Grown Ups” movies hails from Veracruz, Mexico, and is of Spanish and Lebanese descent.

She’s married to François-Henri Pinault, whose family owns a Ligue 1 team. Hayek Pinault has been designated a FIFA World Cup 2026 Ambassador.

Unlike at previous World Cups, the full squads of both teams will come out on the field for the national anthems.

Usually only the players in the starting lineup are on the field when the anthems are played.

FIFA has changed things around this time so that the substitutes can take part as well.

The players will be standing around the center circle facing each other during the anthems.

FIFA says it will “create a moment of unity, pride and emotion” for both the teams and the fans in the stadium.

The party is continuing inside Azteca Stadium.

Waving flags and wearing hats, costumes, and even body paint, thousands of people are dancing to every hit song that booms on the speakers.

The Mexican team is getting more cheers than the South African team, as expected with the home advantage.

Midfielder Brian Gutierrez will become the first Mexican American player to start in a World Cup for Mexico’s national team.

The 22-year-old, who was born in Berwyn, Illinois, played for the United States but did not have to apply for a country switch because he had only played friendlies for the U.S. against Venezuela and Costa Rica in January 2025.

Gutierrez and midfielder Obed Vargas are the two Mexican American players on Mexico´s World Cup roster.

The last time that Mexico selected two Mexican American players was at Brazil 2014, when Miguel Ponce and Isaac Brizuela were chosen, but neither saw playing time.

Danny Ocean has performed live “Partidazo,” his collaboration on the “Official FIFA World Cup 2026 Album.”

Ocean was surrounded by dancers wearing a modern version of the traditional dress from the Mexican state of Jalisco modified to have hoodies on the top.

The Venezuelan singer, songwriter, and producer became known internationally for his hit “Me rehuso,” which became an anthem of the Venezuelan diaspora.

Since then, he has released songs such as “Dembow,” “Imagínate,” “Mónaco” and “Fuera del mercado. He has also collaborated with artists such as Alejandro Sanz, Karol G, Sech, Camilo and Justin Quiles.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has decided not to attend the fan fest at the Zócalo in downtown Mexico City to watch the World Cup opening.

That’s according to an official who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to make public statements.

The president had said she would watch the opening ceremony and the game with Mexican fans at the Zócalo fan fest.

J Balvin put on a dynamic performance during the opening ceremony in Mexico City.

He started driving a cardboard car with “Que calor” and then was joined by Ryan Castro for “Una A La Vez”, then finished with “I Like It” one of his hits, originally released with Cardi B and Bad Bunny.

José Álvaro Osorio Balvín, from Colombia, is one of the biggest stars of reggaeton and has experience in a world stage. In 2020 he participated in the Super Bowl halftime show as a guest of Shakira and Jennifer Lopez.

He has been awarded five Latin Grammys and nominated for a Grammy. He also received the Billboard Spirit of Hope Award at the Billboard Latin Music Awards and 11 Billboard Latin Music Awards.