The FIFA World Cup 2026 opened in Mexico City and the hosts made a winning start. In front of 80,824 fans at Estadio Azteca, Mexico beat South Africa 2-0 to go top of Group A. It was a lively curtain-raiser with an early goal, a classic header and three red cards that shaped the night.

Mexico settled quicker in a 4-1-4-1 and pressed South Africa’s 5-3-2 into mistakes. The opening came fast. At 9 minutes, Erik Lira pinched the ball high and slipped Julián Quiñones through. The forward drove a right-footed finish past Ronwen Williams to lift the roof. Brian Gutiérrez went into the book on 23 minutes as the hosts kept the tempo high. By half time it was 1-0 and comfortable, with Mexico on top in possession and territory while South Africa managed only two shots.

Second half swings on cards and a classic Jiménez header

The restart changed on 49 minutes when Siphephelo Sithole pulled down a breaking Mexican attacker as last man. Referee Wilton Pereira Sampaio produced a straight red for a professional foul and South Africa were down to ten. Hugo Broos turned to the bench, introducing Themba Zwane, but Mexico doubled the lead soon after. On 67 minutes Raul Jiménez met a superb Roberto Alvarado cross with a thumping header for 2-0. The move started with tidy work from Lira and Quiñones to open the right flank.

The cards kept coming. A VAR check at 82 minutes upgraded Zwane’s incident to violent conduct and a red card was shown at 84, leaving South Africa with nine. Mexico then managed the game with fresh legs as Edson Álvarez, Armando González and Alexis Vega came on. There was late drama for the hosts too when captain César Montes was dismissed at 90+2 for a last-man foul. The match closed at ten versus nine after seven added minutes, with Mexico largely untroubled. Pereira Sampaio kept a firm grip on a fiery opener.

The numbers behind the win

Mexico controlled the ball and the chances. Possession finished 61 to 39 and the expected goals read 1.41 to 0.07. Shots were 16 to 3, with Mexico hitting the target four times and the woodwork once. Touches in the penalty area told a clear story at 20 to 2. The hosts also created and scored both of the game’s big chances.

Passing and wide play worked. Mexico completed 467 of 520 passes and crossed 5 of 12, while South Africa hit 272 of 334 and 1 of 8. In duels Mexico edged ground duels 54 percent and dominated the air at 68 percent. South Africa did win more tackles overall at 14 to 11, but Mexico’s press produced the key turnovers in the final third. Corners finished 3 to 1, and Mexico’s long balls were cleaner at 32 of 49 compared to 17 of 46.

Standout performers and Sofascore Ratings

Julián Quiñones set the tone and posted the highest Sofascore Rating of 8.5. He scored the opener, hit the post and added two key passes in a strong 79-minute shift. Roberto Alvarado delivered a pinpoint assist, created two big chances and earned an 8.1 Sofascore Rating. Raul Jiménez bullied the back line, won five aerials and headed the second for a 7.9. Erik Lira mixed bite with vision, winning two tackles and assisting the first goal for a 7.4. Goalkeeper Raúl Rangel handled what came his way with two saves and 0.13 goals prevented, landing a 7.3.

For South Africa, captain Ronwen Williams made two saves and several high claims for a 6.7. Evidence Makgopa brought some late presence off the bench and rated 6.8. Teboho Mokoena worked to progress play from midfield and finished on 6.5. The dismissals hurt the Bafana Bafana cause, with Sithole at 5.0 after the early red and Zwane at 5.3 following his late dismissal. Nkosinathi Sibisi took a yellow and battled in the back line under pressure.

What it means for Group A

Mexico bank three points and a +2 goal difference to open Group A. The performance was controlled, the crowd was loud and the key attackers looked sharp at Estadio Azteca. South Africa now need a quick reset after finishing with nine and creating little in open play. The defensive shape had its moments, but discipline and transitions will be top of the review.

You can dive deeper into live ratings, heat maps and the Group A table on Sofascore. Follow every World Cup match for instant lineups, real-time stats and each player’s Sofascore Rating.