Mexico have opened the World Cup is clinical fashion, winning 2-0 against South Africa with a goal either side of half time and either side of the first Red Card for South Africa. One more Red Card was handed to each side in the final ten minutes as the match ended with more red cards than goals. Mexico could afford the luxury of subs and go-slow in the last quarter of the game and look good to go deep in the tournament. Nothing suggests South Africa will make it out of the Group Stage. This Mexico vs South Africa 2026 FIFA World Cup Match Centre brings you the Match Summary, Stats, and Preview if you want to check how bad our predictions and pre-match stats were.
Mexico vs South Africa Match Summary
Here are the bits and pieces and minutes that mattered during the game, to provide you with as much information as you need in one minute, or at least allow you to fast forward the SBS coverage.
Setting the scene
After an opening ceremony that was something between primary school music night and local government community BBQ, the 2026 FIFA World Cup was ready for some actual football. And if you were wondering why the tickets prices were so high, for another reason other than complete and utter greed and corruption at FIFA, it is to pay for those giant flags on the field which take up an entire half of the football. One last non footballing point before the match kicks off, how good are the Mexican shirts. Best at the World Cup I’d argue.
3 Min – The early minutes haven’t disappointed, some Simpsons-esque passing the ball around that you’d expect from a game involving Mexico. But we have our first foul, and a little bit of rolling around for the worst injury in the history of injuries. This gives Mexico a free kick about 30 metres out, and it goes straight into a two man wall.
4 Min – A genuine chance and first shot on target. Mexico get the ball in the box after South Africa were stuffing around with it in defence and Raul Jiminez shoots but at the keeper who deflects away. The resulting corner doesn’t give too much confidence about South Africa’s defence, but score remains 0-0.
9 Min – GOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL
Mexico score the first score of the World Cup. South Africa try and play out from the back, the ball goes from keeper to player standing on the edge of the penalty area who fumbles and is pounced on by Mexico. The ball quickly finds it way to Quiñones who shoots at the keeper but this one goes through his legs deflecting off his right foot into the goal. Mexico are happy. Football is happy for now.
17 Min – First yellow card of the game to South Africa’s Mokoena for an agricultural tackle. Whilst looking up how to spell his name another player caught my eye – Yaya Sithole – who is only one h away from the greatest name in sporting history and an accurate description of some of Brisbane’s northern suburbs.
19 Min – Another shot just high and wide from Mexico’s Quiñones after more awkward play from the back by South Africa. They need to stop it soon or lose 4-0.
22 Min – The first lol moment of the World Cup as Mexico receive their first yellow card. The TV coverage director must enjoy a laugh as he provides a slow motion showing the South African not being touched and the delayed pain and theatrical diving for that non contact was good enough for a trial on Dance Moms. South Africa waste the free kick close-ish to goal and we have our first drinks break. Yellow card was for Brian Gutiérrez in case he’s silly enough to go near that player again. Also, how good a name is Brian for a Mexican player. As he’s good too. Great name, great player. Love Brian.
35 Min – First exciting moment of the post Drinks Break falls to Mexico going close with an attacking raid. This move down the left was stopped by the keeper this time.
40 Min – The faux injuries are coming thick and fast, just the way we like it. The USA might have to fly in one of those big mid air refueling planes for all the magic water spraying they’ll need to do over this World Cup.
42 Min – Mexico go close and probably should have scored. Ball is played into Jiminez in the box who can’t quite get a better touch on it. Moments later Mexico go even closer as they hit the post after some lovely ball playing. Another goal is coming surely. And of course, don’t call anyone Shirley in Mexico. You just never know….
44 Min – First decent shot on target for South Africa as Mbokazi blasts one from way outside the box. Mexican keeper has it covered, but looks well capable of a super goal.
HALF TIME – MEXICO 1 SOUTH AFRICA 0 – Mexico are doing this easy but need another goal to justify the dominance.
46 Min – Just seconds after the second half kicks off South Africa stuff up kicking the ball around the back again and this time our mate Brian pounces and almost scores. Another goal is coming through the South African passing at the back soon. They should just go Route 1 and be done with it.
48 Min – Mexico spy the South African keeper off his line and go for it. Almost pays off. South African in real trouble here.
49 Min – RED CARD, TROUBLE
Our mate Brian Gutiérrez makes a break, and is chased down by none other than Sithole who brings him down just outside the box. It’s a clear goal scoring situation and given the South African keeper probably would have been a goal. Sithole hangs around for a bit then trudges off. The resulting free kick outside the box goes straight into the wall and a follow up shot is pretty ordinary. But another goal will come. They were looking the goods v 11 players.
60 Min – First substitution for South Africa as they deal with playing with 10 players and Mexico’s relentless pressure. A few half chances for the Mexicans so far, but no wave of attack yet.
66 Min – Mexican subs now, and no that isn’t a reference to a World Cup themed special at Subway, and I can’t believe they’re making off my mate Brian. But excitement as they are bringing on a player they are calling a wonderkid. And based on my two minutes of study on the BBC and Wikipedia, he’s someone to get excited about – Gilberto Mora – just 17 years old.
67 Min – GOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL
Raul Jiminez puts Mexico 2-0 up, and this has been coming. A lovely attack down the centre, down the sides sees a ball into the box and Raul Jiminez’s head is perfectly placed to score a beautiful headed goal. Mexico are 2-0 up against 10 players and this game is over.
73 Min – Penalty Shout for Mexico, and in fairness if this was an everyday English Premier League game they’d probably look at it 100 times then give it and argue about it on the radio for the next three days.
78 Min – Mexico are preserving themselves now. As am I by typing only when I need to as the game winds down. Can’t see anything other than high level brake applying from Mexico. In another World Cup era when every team doesn’t win a ribbon, you’d have a crack for goal difference, but this World Cup it seems less important.
81 Min VAR for Possible Red Card…RED CARD SOUTH AFRICA
The referee runs off the sideline TV and checks an incident from a South African attack on goal. The replays show a South African and Mexican player getting to the ball at the same time with a bit of physicality, and then the camera angle shows the South African players slapping the Mexican player in the head. Pretty soft in the grand scale of assault worldwide, but Red Car worthy in football. Zwane is the player sent off for violent conduct, South African are down to nine players now.
89 Min – RED CARD MEXICO
The game’s third sending off is for Mexico’s C. Montes. South Africa make a break down their right, and Montes wanders over to stop the raid and essentially cleans up the South African attacker that would have been a yellow card in any minute of the game, but as it was a goal scoring chance, it’s a justified red.
The resulting free kick on the edge of the box was weak. Much like South Africa’s effort in this first game.
Here’s as many stats as we could steal from other places just for you.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup opens up with one of the three host nations Mexico taking on South Africa in their first World Cup since hosting the 2010 edition. The pressure is on the home side to start their campaign with a win. This 2026 FIFA World Cup Group A Mexico vs South Africa Match Centre will provide an overview of the before and after with a Pre-Game Summary, Match Review and Post-Match stats.
Mexico vs South Africa Preview
STATS SUMMARY
RATINGS
The Gurgler’s in-house Ratings system chooses the winner.
| Mexico | 58.2% | South Africa | 41.8% |
BARELY INTERESTING STATS
Mexico are unbeaten in their last seven first matches at the World Cup – W5 D2 – with three 1-0 wins in that run.
Mexico are W1 D1 for first games at World Cup hosted by Mexico.
South Africa have drawn their last two first World Cup matches. Mexico are unbeaten this calendar year (W3 D2) scoring a total of 7-1.
South Africa finished top of their qualifying group that included World Cup regulars Nigeria.
H2H Mexico lead 2-1 with one draw, but Mexico have won both games played in North America scoring four goals on both occasions.
Mexico are W1 D2 L1 v African sides at World Cups, South Africa’s only World Cup game v CONCACAF nations is the 2010 World Cup game in South Africa v Mexico which was a 1-1 draw.
Mexico have made the quarter finals in both of the World Cups held in Mexico. They were beaten in the quarter final by the team that lost the final on both occasions.
MATCH PREDICTION
MEXICO 2 SOUTH AFRICA 1
