World Cup 2026: score, summary, and match facts Mexico – South Africa

The Mexican team, led by Javier Aguirre, built its success around two goals scored at key moments. Julián Quiñones opened the scoring in the 9th minute, before Raúl Jiménez secured Mexico’s lead in the 67th minute. South Africa, led by Hugo Broos, finished the match with nine players after the expulsions of Yaya Sithole and Themba Zwane.

This first result gives Mexico a solid start in a competition co-hosted with the United States and Canada. El Tri, who reached the quarter-finals at home in 1970 and 1986, had to bear the weight of a highly publicized encounter in a stadium iconic to world football from the start.

South Africa, qualified for its fourth finals after finishing top of its African qualifying group ahead of Nigeria and Benin, starts with a defeat that already complicates its maneuvering margin. The Bafana Bafana will need to bounce back quickly in a group where every point can be crucial.

Mexico strikes early and then controls the score

The match quickly tipped in favor of the Mexicans. Julián Quiñones gave the host country the lead in the 9th minute, putting Mexico in an ideal position to manage the pace of the match without having to chase after the score.

Javier Aguirre’s team then consolidated its lead in the second half. Raúl Jiménez netted the second Mexican goal in the 67th minute, a turning point that reduced South Africa’s chances of a comeback and confirmed Mexico’s superiority on the scoreboard.

However, the end of the match was marked by the expulsion of César Montes in the 90th minute plus two. This red card did not affect the result, but it could weigh on Mexico’s subsequent performance if a suspension is confirmed for the next match.

South Africa penalized by two expulsions

South Africa found its task complicated right from the start of the second half. Yaya Sithole received a red card in the 50th minute, while his team was trailing by a goal and still had to find a way to get back into the match.

The situation further deteriorated in the 84th minute with the exclusion of Themba Zwane. Reduced to nine, the Bafana Bafana could not reverse the trend against a Mexican team already leading by two goals.

For Hugo Broos, this first outing presents an immediate challenge. South Africa will need to correct its course in its second group match, with the obligation to preserve its chances in the qualification race. Mexico, on the other hand, takes a favorable option right from the first day without waiting for the other results in Group A.

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