Three players were sent off as Mexico opened the 2026 World Cup with a 2-0 victory over nine-man South Africa.

Yaya Sithole and substitute Themba Zwane both saw red for South Africa, with Julian Quinones and Raul Jimenez on target for the co-hosts in Thursday's Group A clash at Mexico City Stadium.

Making his first start at a World Cup, despite this being the fourth edition of the tournament he has featured in, veteran campaigner Jimenez forced a fine save out of South Africa's Ronwen Williams just five minutes in.

However, Williams played his part as Mexico netted the earliest goal in a World Cup opener since 2006.

Williams' poor pass put Sithole in trouble, and the midfielder's heavy touch was pounced upon by Erik Lira. His lay-off was picked up by Quinones, who set himself before planting a firm finish through the goalkeeper's legs after nine minutes.

Jimenez was thwarted again as Mexico pushed for a deserved second, before Quinones saw a low strike clip off the post.

South Africa generated just 0.06 expected goals in the first half, and their task was made even harder in the 49th minute when the hapless Sithole clipped Brian Gutierrez when he was through on goal and duly received a straight red card.

Gilberto Mora's introduction from the bench sparked the crowd into life as he became the youngest player to feature for a host nation at the World Cup (17 years and 240 days), and Mexico soon had their second.

Jimenez's long-awaited first World Cup goal arrived as he latched onto Roberto Alvarado's wicked cross and headed home in the 67th minute.

A VAR review then saw referee Wilton Pereira Sampaio deem that Zwane had committed violent conduct when he tussled innocuously with Alvarado, becoming the second-oldest player to be sent off in a World Cup match.

There was drama in stoppage time as Cesar Montes harshly saw red for felling Khuliso Mudau, but it was too late for South Africa to mount a comeback.

Red mist descends, but Mexico make their mark

South Africa were the masters of their own downfall. Not only did they offer next to nothing going forward, having just three shots and creating chances worth only 0.07 xG, but they became the first team to receive two red cards in a World Cup match since Portugal and the Netherlands both had two players dismissed against each other in the 2006 round of 16.

The red card dished out to Sithole was the first brandished in an opening World Cup match since Marco Etcheverry was sent off for Bolivia against Germany in 1994.

But it was a fantastic occasion for Mexico, who have all but put one foot in the knockout stage, given eight of the third-place teams will progress from the groups. Their tally of 16 shots, 1.41 xG and 20 touches in the opponent's box, compared to South Africa's two, demonstrates their dominance.

It looked like Jimenez's long wait for his maiden World Cup goal would drag on, but when his big chance came, the striker, who just this week sealed a return to Wolves, made no mistake to become the oldest goalscorer at a World Cup since Yahya Golmohammadi for Iran against Mexico in 2006.

Montes may have felt hard done by to be sent off, as this game became the first at a World Cup to feature three straight red cards since South Africa (one) v Denmark (two) in 1998, but Mexico can still reflect on a routine success.