Host nation Mexico wins World Cup opener 2-0 against South Africa amid red cards and protests

Mexico kicked off the World Cup with a 2-0 victory over South Africa in front of a massive crowd at the Azteca Stadium. Julián Quiñones scored the tournament's inaugural goal in the ninth minute, followed by a second goal from Raúl Jiménez that visibly moved the player.

The match, however, was overshadowed by a significant number of disciplinary actions. Within the first 25 minutes, two yellow cards were issued to each team. The game's intensity escalated after halftime when South African player Sphephelo Sithole received a red card, forcing his team to play with ten men for over 40 minutes. The disciplinary issues continued with another red card for South Africa's Themba Zwane in the final minutes, reducing them to nine players. In injury time, Mexico's César Montes also received a red card, meaning the host nation also finished the match a man down.

Beyond the pitch, the event was met with protests. Demonstrators, including mothers of missing persons and a teachers' union advocating for higher wages, gathered outside the stadium. Images and videos shared online showed masked protesters clashing with police, with some individuals throwing objects and others being arrested.