The Rundown - The 2026 World Cup Just Got Off to a F*cking Brilliant Start

The World Cup Is Back … And It’s As Good As We Remember

We couldn’t have asked for a more entertaining first two games of the 2026 World Cup.

Many feared that Mexico vs South Africa wouldn’t meet the same heights as it did 16 years ago in Johannesburg, while others forecasted the clash between South Korea and Czechia to be a complete letdown, a boring, low-quality, over-managed mess that would just highlight that the expanded World Cup format was not, in fact, an upgrade.

Instead, five goals, three red cards, a dramatic comeback, and everything in between illustrated the exact opposite. Although the joyless amongst us will say we are glorifying how good the opening two games were due to World Cup fever, it was World Cup drama at its absolute finest – chaos at every turn, new stars announcing themselves, and raw emotion as new national heroes basked in the limelight of sports' greatest event.

It was an opening day for the ages, one that football fans the world over will remember for the rest of their days – here are the three things we at Football Park loved the most.

New Names Shine

There is no shame in admitting that ahead of the two games, we were unfamiliar with members of all four teams involved. That’s part of the beauty of the World Cup – unknown names becoming international heroes in the blink of an eye and earning a spot in World Cup folklore.

Four years ago, it was Ecuador’s Enner Valencia who forever wrote himself into the history books as the opening scorer of a World Cup tournament – this year, it was Mexican winger Julian Quiñones who gave host nation Mexico lift-off in front of home fans in the country’s premier footballing venue, the Estadio Azteca.

A left-winger for Saudi club Al-Qadsiah, Quinones is an unfamiliar name to anyone outside of Mexico and the Middle East, but it’s high time he got the respect he deserves. He beat both Ivan Toney and Cristiano Ronaldo to the Saudi Pro League golden boot last season with a whopping 33 goals in just 31 games, and against South Africa, he was the best player on the pitch, taking five shots, completing a further five dribbles, and of course finding the net after some shambolic defending from their opponents.

GOAL FOR MEXICO 🇲🇽

Julian Quinones scores the first goal of the 2026 FIFA World Cup! pic.twitter.com/u2r2qQnVA6

— ITV Football (@itvfootball) June 11, 2026

In the other game, South Korea’s In-Beom Hwang was the other unheralded name to instantly acquire superstar status. South Korea absolutely dominated Czechia, taking 15 shots to their opponents' seven and having 62% of the ball.

However, the Czechs remained resolute in defence and playing for set pieces, eventually capitalised on one, with captain Ladislav Krejci heading home from a long throw. Korea, who had seen countless opportunities pass them by, had been punished for their distinct lack of cutting edge.

However, Feyenoord midfielder Hwang sparked a superb comeback with an excellent finish, sitting down both a defender and the goalkeeper before chipping the ball into the far corner, a finish more befitting of the great Son Heung-Min than a CDM from the Eredivisie.

Unbelievable composure 🤩

Hwang In-beom equalises for Korea Republic with impeccable style! pic.twitter.com/QXpOxW0CTh

— ITV Football (@itvfootball) June 12, 2026

10 minutes from time, Hwang was at it again, this time as a creator, as his inch-perfect cutback sought out substitute Hyun-Gyu Oh who, via the hand of Matej Kovar in goal, found the back of the net, handing South Korea a memorable opening day win.

Both Hwang and Quinones came into the tournament with little fanfare, but as is the way with the early stars of the World Cup, fans will now be itching to see more of them. Tone setters for what, going off the first two games, promises to be an epic instalment of football’s greatest show, they now have the platform to set world football alight and secure themselves a lucrative next phase of their careers while they’re at it.

The End of Controversy, The Start of Chaos

The week or so preceding kick-off at the Estadio Azteca was riddled with controversy. Somali referee Omar Artan was denied entry to the USA for alleged association with members of a terrorist network, while near England’s World Cup camp in Kansas City, a mass shooting saw nine people taken to hospital with injuries.

In a country as large and diverse as the USA, controversy is never too far away, but the uptick in unsavoury events in the lead-up to the tournament was certainly cause for concern – people feared that there was a very real possibility of the politics and chaos becoming more of a talking point than the football itself.

However, Mexico vs South Africa illustrated that we have little to worry about, as it was nothing short of a feast of football.

Three red cards, two for the South Africans and one for the hosts, Raul Jimenez crying his eyes out after scoring at the World Cup so recently after losing his father, and the hilarious incident where none of the South African players could understand what the referee was saying following a VAR check, resulting in the best meme template of 2026 so far.

Mexico vs South Africa highlights pic.twitter.com/SeVKD9DD28

— Football Park (@thefootballpark) June 11, 2026

It truly was good chaos personified, and though South Korea vs Czech Republic didn’t feature anywhere near as much chaos in the literal sense, such as red cards and general confusion, the football itself was chaotic.

South Korea created chance after chance after chance, spurning all of them, and it took a shocking Czech opener for them to finally put their finishing boots on, turning the game on its head in superb fashion and earning a deserved opening game win.

After all of the negative coverage we were fed in the lead up to the tournament, it was refreshing to see that a good game of football or two can completely change the global mood.

The Promise of More

The thing we loved most about the World Cup opening day (or night, for those of us in the UK), however, was the promise of football like that for the next six weeks.

The tournament is treated with something bordering on reverence. In a summer that would otherwise be dominated by transfer news and kit releases, the World Cup provides a welcome oasis where fans can take refuge from the dull PR stunts and ridiculous player prices.

It’s an event that all of us live, whether we are going to the actual venues or watching from the local boozer – it truly has become that special. When else are you going to see a South Africa second-half capitulation or a Korean CDM turning into prime R9 to score his first international goal since 2023?

World Cup fever just oozing through my veins pic.twitter.com/t5L8MDRno9

— Alex 𝓕𝓪𝓷 (@xAlexTHFC) June 11, 2026

The World Cup truly provides the best footballing action, drama and diversity in the world; the tactical differences, unique players, and one-of-a-kind stories give the tournament its lifeblood – the reason it has been in existence for almost 100 years now.

Thursday night reminded us of just why we love football. Regardless of who won or lost, it was a fantastic show, and it has got our blood up for the next 102 games. Roll on night 2…