football 11 June 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Mexico downs South Africa in feisty World Cup opener
Mexico kicked off their 2026 World Cup campaign with a 2-0 victory over South Africa at the iconic Azteca Stadium. The match was marred by three red cards, with South Africa reduced to nine men by the end. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/sports/world-cup/quinones-and-jimenez-fire-mexico-to-win-over-nine-man-south-africa-5493312
The 2026 FIFA World Cup officially commenced with co-hosts Mexico securing a 2-0 win against South Africa in a lively Group A opener at the historic Azteca Stadium. The atmosphere was electric as fans filled the legendary venue, eager to witness World Cup action on home soil for the first time in four decades.
Julian Quinones opened the scoring for Mexico early in the game, setting the tone for a dominant performance. His goal came after Erik Lira dispossessed a South African player on the edge of the box, feeding Quinones who confidently finished past the goalkeeper.
Raul Jimenez doubled Mexico’s lead in the second half with a powerful header, relieving any tension for the home supporters and ensuring the victory. The strike marked Jimenez’s first World Cup goal.
The encounter, however, was not without its controversies. South Africa saw two players sent off: Sphephelo Sithole received a straight red early in the second half for a reckless tackle, and Themba Zwane was dismissed later following a VAR review. Mexico also finished the match with ten men after Cesar Montes was shown a red card in the closing moments for denying a goal-scoring opportunity.
Despite the ill-tempered nature of parts of the match, Mexico’s victory provides a positive start to their World Cup journey, boosting their chances of advancing from a group that also includes South Korea and the Czech Republic.