Mexico kicked off the2026 World Cup in winning fashion, but it was the red cards, not the goals, that defined one of the most chaotic opening matches in the tournament’s history.

Goals from Julian Quinones and Raul Jimenez gave the co-hosts a 2-0 win at the Estadio Azteca, but the scoreline was not the headline coming away from the curtain-raiser.

Three straight red cards in the second half left the game finishing at ten versus nine, the first World Cup opener in history to feature three dismissals.

Quinones broke the deadlock with the earliest goal to open a World Cup since Philipp Lahm’s strike for Germany against Costa Rica after six minutes in 2006.

Speaking afterwards, he was delighted. “Many things came into my head like celebrating and screaming with joy,” he said.

“I went to the bench to see my peers because they have given me so much confidence. I wanted to feel that joy with them.”

South Africa’s Sphephelo Sithole was shown a straight red card early in the second half after pulling back Brian Gutierrez who was clean through on goal, effectively killing Bafana Bafana’s hopes of a comeback.

Raul Jimenez then made it 2-0, heading home from close range to spark more Azteca celebrations.

Quinones paid tribute to his veteran strike partner. “We really congratulated him because he gives a lot to the team,” he said.

“Being part of a team is our pride and it’s wonderful he continues to add goals to his career as a player in our national team.”

Red cards the headline

Then came the controversy. Cesar Montes was shown a straight red card for denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity after a clumsy full-body tackle on a South Africa forward.

Montes will now miss the next group game, and Quinones didn’t mince his words. “There were some mistakes that were very costly,” he said flatly. “Being sent off is something you can avoid.”

The South Africa manager was also clearly frustrated in his post-match assessment. “The first red card, I don’t think we have to say something about it,” he conceded, before turning his fire on Montes’ dismissal.

“The second red card, I think the Mexican player blocked my player, that happens, the referee decides something else, so it is a little bit a pity that we have to finish this game with nine players.”

Broos also insisted his side were not outclassed. “I think my team played a good game, some moments in the game Mexico were even desperate, they didn’t know how to find the spaces, so everything was good.

“The only thing that must be better in the next game is when we have the ball. That was not so good today so we have to work on it.”