The 2026 FIFA World Cup began in appropriately dramatic fashion on June 11. Co-host Mexico opened the tournament at Estadio Azteca and dispatched South Africa 2–0 in a game that produced more red cards than any opening fixture in World Cup history. Three hours later, South Korea came from behind to beat Czechia 2–1 and share top spot in Group A heading into Matchday 2.
Mexico 2–0 South Africa: History for the Wrong Reasons
If Mexico wanted to announce themselves to the tournament, Julián Quiñones obliged. The forward struck low through the legs of goalkeeper Ronwen Williams with less than nine minutes on the clock — the first goal of the 2026 World Cup, in front of a packed Azteca crowd that had been waiting decades for their country to host again. Roberto Alvarado supplied the assist, and the stadium responded exactly as you would expect.
From there the match descended into chaos. Sphephelo Sithole was shown red for South Africa after denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity, and Mexico's César Montes received the same punishment for the same offence. Then, late in the second half, South African substitute Themba Zwane was dismissed for striking Alvarado — leaving Bafana Bafana with just nine men on the pitch. Three red cards in a single World Cup match is a record, and the first-ever opening game of a tournament to feature three dismissals.
Playing against nine men, Mexico added a second through Raúl Jiménez in the 67th minute — a header at the far post from a precise Alvarado cross — to complete the 2–0 win. South Africa finished the match with virtually no attacking threat: an expected-goals total of 0.07 and zero big chances created tells you everything about how the afternoon went. Mexico's 60% possession dominance was hard-earned but rarely threatened by the end.
South Korea 2–1 Czechia: A Comeback to Open the Night
The evening fixture at Estadio Akron was tighter, more technically interesting, and ultimately produced one of the more unusual goals in recent World Cup memory. The two teams played out a goalless first half in which South Korea had the better of the possession without finding a way through.
Czechia broke the deadlock in the 59th minute when captain Ladislav Krejcí headed in directly from a throw-in by Vladimír Coufal — the first World Cup goal to be scored directly from a throw-in since Zanka's famous effort for Denmark against Croatia in 2018. It is the kind of set-piece innovation that teams spend months rehearsing and rarely get to execute under pressure.
South Korea's response was to bring on fresh legs and push higher up the pitch. The equaliser came through a swift combination: Paik's through ball found Hwang In-beom, who squared for substitute Oh, and Oh finished cleanly from close range to level the scores. The winner arrived soon after as Korea continued to press, completing a comeback that was fully deserved on the second-half evidence. Son Heung-min's influence before he was substituted off remained a visible presence in how Czech defenders positioned themselves, even if Son did not get on the scoresheet himself.
What the Standings Mean for Matchday 2
Mexico and South Korea both sit on three points with a positive goal difference. Czechia and South Africa are in the unfamiliar territory of must-not-lose situations after just one game in an expanded 48-team tournament where the margin for error is smaller than it was before. With 16 third-place teams progressing to the Round of 32, nothing is mathematically over after one defeat — but both losing sides will feel the pressure as their second group games approach.
Mexico face South Korea in what shapes up as the Group A decider, while South Africa and Czechia meet in what could effectively be a knockout match in all but name. Both runners-up can still qualify with a win, but a second defeat would leave either team needing a combination of results to go their way.
Three Takeaways from Day One
- Mexico are dangerous at home. The Azteca crowd and the co-host urgency gave El Tri an intensity that overcame a disjointed first-half performance. Jiménez's clinical finish from a set-piece is the kind of goal that wins groups.
- South Korea's bench matters. The decisive moments in both their goals came after substitutions changed the game's energy. Coach Hong Myung-bo has options, and he used them well on debut.
- Three red cards is a record, but it is also a one-off. The South Africa-Mexico officiating story will dominate morning headlines, but neither team will want to repeat the indiscipline. Montes's suspension for Mexico's next game is a genuine setback.
FAQ
When do Mexico and South Korea play next? Both teams play their Matchday 2 fixtures over the coming days. Check the live soccer schedule on Scorelisto for confirmed dates, kick-off times and streaming details.
How many teams progress from each group at the 2026 World Cup? Two teams qualify directly from each of the 12 groups, plus the eight best third-place finishers also advance to the Round of 32.
Is this César Montes's first World Cup red card? It is the first of this tournament for Mexico and means Montes misses the next group game through suspension. His replacement will be one of the storylines heading into Mexico's second fixture.
Where can I watch World Cup 2026 matches? In the US, Fox and Telemundo hold the English and Spanish rights. Stream the full schedule and find more World Cup coverage on the Scorelisto blog.