FIFA World Cup

Mexico vs South Africa, 2026 FIFA World Cup, Group Stage

· FIFA World Cup
Mexico
  • 9': Julián Quiñones
  • 67': Raúl Jiménez
  • Red Card 90'+2': César Montes
FT
2 - 0
South Africa
  • Red Card 49': Sphephelo Sithole
  • Red Card 84': Themba Zwane

Mexico kick off World Cup with 2-0 win over South Africa amid three red cards

Mexico's misery in World Cup opening games was finally ended as they secured a 2-0 win over South Africa at the Estadio Azteca in a match featuring three red cards.

Match Timeline

  • 0': Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
  • 0': First Half begins.
  • 3': Foul by Aubrey Modiba (South Africa).
  • 3': Roberto Alvarado (Mexico) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
  • 4': Attempt blocked. Brian Gutiérrez (Mexico) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
  • 5': Attempt saved. Raúl Jiménez (Mexico) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner by Ronwen Williams (South Africa). Assisted by Israel Reyes with a cross.
  • 5': Corner, Mexico. Conceded by Ronwen Williams.
  • 9': Goal! Mexico 1, South Africa 0. Julián Quiñones (Mexico) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Érik Lira.
  • 10': Handball by Raúl Jiménez (Mexico).
  • 11': Foul by Khuliso Mudau (South Africa).
  • 11': Julián Quiñones (Mexico) wins a free kick on the left wing.
  • 12': Corner, Mexico. Conceded by Khuliso Mudau.
  • 13': Attempt missed. Raúl Jiménez (Mexico) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Roberto Alvarado with a cross following a corner.
  • 15': Foul by Yaya Sithole (South Africa).
  • 15': Álvaro Fidalgo (Mexico) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
  • 16': Mbekezeli Mbokazi (South Africa) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
  • 16': Foul by Brian Gutiérrez (Mexico).
  • 17': Foul by Teboho Mokoena (South Africa).
  • 17': Álvaro Fidalgo (Mexico) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
  • 17': Teboho Mokoena (South Africa) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
  • 19': Attempt missed. Julián Quiñones (Mexico) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses the top right corner. Assisted by Israel Reyes.
  • 20': Lyle Foster (South Africa) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
  • 20': Foul by César Montes (Mexico).
  • 21': Foul by Khuliso Mudau (South Africa).
  • 21': César Montes (Mexico) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
  • 23': Teboho Mokoena (South Africa) wins a free kick on the right wing.
  • 23': Foul by Brian Gutiérrez (Mexico).
  • 23': Brian Gutiérrez (Mexico) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
  • 25': Delay in match for a drinks break.
  • 27': Delay over. They are ready to continue.
  • 30': Attempt blocked. Brian Gutiérrez (Mexico) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Julián Quiñones.
  • 32': Offside, South Africa. Aubrey Modiba is caught offside.
  • 37': Attempt missed. Lyle Foster (South Africa) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Mbekezeli Mbokazi with a cross.
  • 39': Foul by Yaya Sithole (South Africa).
  • 39': Érik Lira (Mexico) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
  • 42': Attempt blocked. Julián Quiñones (Mexico) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Álvaro Fidalgo.
  • 42': Julián Quiñones (Mexico) hits the right post with a right footed shot from the centre of the box. Assisted by Brian Gutiérrez.
  • 43': Mbekezeli Mbokazi (South Africa) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
  • 43': Foul by Roberto Alvarado (Mexico).
  • 44': Corner, South Africa. Conceded by Jesús Gallardo.
  • 45': Attempt saved. Mbekezeli Mbokazi (South Africa) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top left corner by Raúl Rangel (Mexico).
  • 45': Fourth official has announced 4 minutes of added time.
  • 45'+2': Attempt blocked. Jesús Gallardo (Mexico) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Raúl Jiménez.
  • 45'+4': Attempt missed. Brian Gutiérrez (Mexico) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Julián Quiñones.
  • 45'+4': First Half ends, Mexico 1, South Africa 0.
  • 45': Second Half begins Mexico 1, South Africa 0.
  • 46': Attempt missed. Brian Gutiérrez (Mexico) right footed shot from outside the box is too high.
  • 48': Attempt saved. Julián Quiñones (Mexico) right footed shot from more than 35 yards is saved in the top centre of the goal by Ronwen Williams (South Africa). Assisted by Raúl Jiménez.
  • 49': Foul by Yaya Sithole (South Africa).
  • 49': Brian Gutiérrez (Mexico) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
  • 49': Yaya Sithole (South Africa) is shown the red card.
  • 52': Attempt blocked. Raúl Jiménez (Mexico) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
  • 52': Attempt missed. Jesús Gallardo (Mexico) left footed shot from the left side of the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Brian Gutiérrez following a set piece situation.
  • 53': Corner, Mexico. Conceded by Khuliso Mudau.
  • 55': Attempt saved. Aubrey Modiba (South Africa) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top left corner by Raúl Rangel (Mexico). Assisted by Teboho Mokoena.
  • 56': Substitution, South Africa. Thalente Mbatha replaces Lyle Foster.
  • 57': Foul by Aubrey Modiba (South Africa).
  • 57': Érik Lira (Mexico) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
  • 58': Attempt missed. Israel Reyes (Mexico) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Brian Gutiérrez with a cross following a set piece situation.
  • 61': Aubrey Modiba (South Africa) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
  • 61': Foul by Roberto Alvarado (Mexico).
  • 61': Substitution, South Africa. Themba Zwane replaces Jayden Adams.
  • 63': Khuliso Mudau (South Africa) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
  • 63': Dangerous play by Julián Quiñones (Mexico).
  • 66': Substitution, Mexico. Luis Chávez replaces Brian Gutiérrez.
  • 66': Substitution, Mexico. Gilberto Mora replaces Álvaro Fidalgo.
  • 67': Goal! Mexico 2, South Africa 0. Raúl Jiménez (Mexico) header from very close range to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Roberto Alvarado with a cross.
  • 68': Delay in match for a drinks break.
  • 70': Delay over. They are ready to continue.
  • 72': Offside, Mexico. Raúl Jiménez is caught offside.
  • 73': Delay in match because of an injury Raúl Jiménez (Mexico).
  • 73': Delay over. They are ready to continue.
  • 74': Foul by Nkosinathi Sibisi (South Africa).
  • 74': Julián Quiñones (Mexico) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
  • 74': Nkosinathi Sibisi (South Africa) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
  • 76': Aubrey Modiba (South Africa) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
  • 76': Foul by Luis Chávez (Mexico).
  • 76': Substitution, Mexico. Edson Álvarez replaces Érik Lira.
  • 76': Substitution, Mexico. Armando González replaces Raúl Jiménez.
  • 76': Substitution, South Africa. Evidence Makgopa replaces Iqraam Rayners.
  • 77': Substitution, South Africa. Oswin Appollis replaces Aubrey Modiba.
  • 79': Substitution, Mexico. Alexis Vega replaces Julián Quiñones.
  • 79': Teboho Mokoena (South Africa) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
  • 79': Foul by Gilberto Mora (Mexico).
  • 81': Foul by Themba Zwane (South Africa).
  • 81': Roberto Alvarado (Mexico) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
  • 81': Delay in match because of an injury Roberto Alvarado (Mexico).
  • 81': Delay over. They are ready to continue.
  • 82': VAR Decision: Card upgraded Themba Zwane (South Africa).
  • 84': Themba Zwane (South Africa) is shown the red card for violent conduct.
  • 89': Mbekezeli Mbokazi (South Africa) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
  • 89': Armando González (Mexico).
  • 90': Foul by Mbekezeli Mbokazi (South Africa).
  • 90': Edson Álvarez (Mexico) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
  • 90': Fourth official has announced 7 minutes of added time.
  • 90'+2': Khuliso Mudau (South Africa) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
  • 90'+2': Foul by César Montes (Mexico).
  • 90'+2': César Montes (Mexico) is shown the red card.
  • 90'+7': Khuliso Mudau (South Africa) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
  • 90'+7': Foul by Jesús Gallardo (Mexico).
  • 90'+8': Second Half ends, Mexico 2, South Africa 0.
  • 0': Match ends, Mexico 2, South Africa 0.

Statistics

https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/countries/500/rsa.png&h=25&scale=crop&w=25&location=originRSA MEXhttps://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/countries/500/mex.png&h=25&scale=crop&w=25&location=origin
11 Fouls 12
2 Yellow Cards 1
2 Red Cards 1
1 Offsides 1
1 Corner Kicks 3
2 Saves 2
39.5 Possession 60.5
3 SHOTS 16
2 ON GOAL 4
0.7 On Target % 0.3
0 Penalty Goals 0
0 Penalty Kicks Taken 0
272 Accurate Passes 467
334 Passes 520
0.8 Pass Completion % 0.9
1 Accurate Crosses 4
8 Crosses 12
0.1 Cross % 0.3
46 Long Balls 48
17 Accurate Long Balls 31
0.4 Long Balls % 0.6
0 Blocked Shots 5
7 Effective Tackles 6
14 Tackles 12
0.5 Tackle % 0.5
7 Interceptions 8
17 Effective Clearances 15
17 Clearances 15

Game Information

Competition: FIFA World Cup

Venue: Estadio Banorte
Location: Mexico City, Mexico
Attendance: 80,824

FIFA World Cup Table

# TEAM GP GD PTS
1 Mexico 3 +6 9
2 South Africa 3 -1 4
3 South Korea 3 -1 3
4 Czechia 3 -4 1
Full Table

Line-Ups

MEX Mexico (4-1-4-1)

No. Name
1 Raúl Rangel (GK)
5 Johan Vásquez
3 César Montes Red Card
6 Érik Lira
23 Jesús Gallardo
15 Israel Reyes
8 Álvaro Fidalgo
26 Brian Gutiérrez Yellow Card
16 Julián Quiñones
25 Roberto Alvarado
9 Raúl Jiménez
Mexico Substitutes:
Luis Romo, César Huerta, Guillermo Ochoa, Carlos Acevedo, Luis Chávez, Mateo Chávez, Santiago Gimenez, Obed Vargas, Alexis Vega, Guillermo Martínez, Armando González, Gilberto Mora, Edson Álvarez, Jorge Sánchez, Orbelín Pineda.

RSA South Africa (5-3-2)

No. Name
1 Ronwen Williams (GK)
21 Ime Okon
14 Mbekezeli Mbokazi
19 Nkosinathi Sibisi Yellow Card
6 Aubrey Modiba
20 Khuliso Mudau
13 Sphephelo Sithole Red Card
23 Jayden Adams
4 Teboho Mokoena Yellow Card
9 Lyle Foster
15 Iqraam Rayners
South Africa Substitutes:
Oswin Appollis, Sipho Chaine, Themba Zwane, Kamogelo Sebelebele, Khulumani Ndamane, Thabang Matuludi, Samukele Kabini, Relebohile Mofokeng, Thalente Mbatha, Ricardo Goss, Bradley Cross, Thapelo Maseko, Tshepang Moremi, Evidence Makgopa, Olwethu Makhanya.

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