Mexico 2-0 South Africa: 2026 FIFA World Cup Match Report & Player Ratings

Mexico 2-0 South Africa: Red Card Galore As Hosts Start With Win

After an incredible build-up, nearly 80,000 Mexican fans were nearly treated the perfect start - just minutes in, newly re-signed Wolves striker Raul Jimenez struck a half-volley low and hard at South Africa goalkeeper Ronwen Williams, who kept out the strike with a strong hand.

However, the home crowd would get their early goal soon after, as the opening strike of the game and the tournament came just nine minutes in as a mistake at the back by South Africa saw Mexican winger Julián Quiñones steal the ball off South Africa's Sphephelo Sithole after he had received the ball from Williams.

With the goal presented to him Quiñones made no mistake, smashing the ball through the legs of WIlliams and into the back of the net to send the Mexico City Stadium wild.

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

Quiñones, full of confidence after opening the scoring, nearly made it two ten minutes later, as the winger let fly from the edge of the box, and his effort grazed the top netting of Williams' goal. Continuing a fine start from the hosts.

South Africa saw their first real sight of goal in the match half an hour in as a header from Burnley striker Lyle Foster presented the South African's with their first effort of the match, but the header could not be kept down by the 25 year-old.

Mexico came inches away from doubling their lead in the final stages of the first half as Quiñones once again struck an effort towards goal, the winger again struck low, but this time it was just off target, hitting the right post with Williams beaten and South Africa again living dangerously.

Half-Time: Mexico 1-0 South Africa

If the South African's rode their luck towards the end of the first half, it ran out considerably in the early stages of the second as Sithole, who had been caught in possession for the goal, saw himself chasing Mexico's Brian Gutiérrez as the 22 year-old ran through on goal. Sithole pulled down the Mexico attacker just before he reached the penalty area, resulting in a straight red card and leaving South Africa with ten players.

A second goal for the joint-hosts seemed inevitable, and it came just beyond the hour mark as 35 yera-old Raul Jimenez headed home at the back post meeting a beautiful cross from Roberto Alvarado for his side's second of the afternoon to put Mexico firmly in the driving seat for victory on the tournament's opening day. It was a great moment for Jimenez as he scored at a FIFA World Cup finals for the first time in his career.

Pure emotion for Raul Jimenez 🥹

The Mexican scores his first-ever FIFA World Cup goal at the age of 35! pic.twitter.com/B6YhrWJoF9

— ITV Football (@itvfootball) June 11, 2026

But if that wasn't bad enough for the South African's, a second red card was issued following a VAR check. Experienced 36 year-old midfielder Themba Zwane was judged to have fouled a Mexican player with violent conduct after brandishing an arm around the back of the head.

A VAR check confirmed the decision of a red card and with a three match ban likely due to violent conduct, meaning Zwane's tournament is all but over before it truly began.

But despite South Africa going down to nine players, the referee still had time for one more red card to be issued, as Mexican defender César Montes brought down South Africa's Khuliso Mudau.

With the challenge judged to have been a denial of a goalscoring opportunity, Montes walked, making it the first time since 2006 where a FIFA World Cup fixture saw three red cards.

That however did little to dim the mood from the Mexicans, who claimed their crucial opening victory with a 2-0 win, setting themselves on course for progression from group A.

Full-Time: Mexico 2-0 South Africa

Player Ratings:

Mexico Ratings

• Rangel (GK): 7

• Reyes: 7

• Montes: 4

• Vasquez: 7

• Gallardo: 7

• Lira: 8

• Alvarado: 8

• Gutierrez: 6

• Fidalgo: 6

• Quíñones: 8

• Jiménez: 7

South Africa Ratings

• Williams (GK): 6

• Muadu: 6

• Sibisi: 5

• Okon: 5

• Mbokazi: 6

• Modiba: 5

• Mokoena: 6

• Sithole: 2

• Adams: 6

• Foster: 5

• Rayners: 5

POTM: Julián Quiñones

Winger Julián Quiñones got the action going early on with his powerful low strike to score the first goal of this FIFA World Cup, and was a key presence in attack all evening as he came close on a number of other occasions.

Quiñones has been in stunning form during his club season, finishing as the top scorer in the Saudi Pro League for his side Al Qadsiah and outscoring the likes of Ivan Toney, Joao Felix and Cristiano Ronaldo.

The early signs are that the 29-year-old has taken that form to the international stage, and he will look to add to that goal in the further two group games - it was only his second for his country, but the signs for more were there today.