Mexico breaks opening match curse, beats South Africa 2-0 for first time

Mexico ended their World Cup opening match curse, securing a historic 2-0 victory against South Africa in their first game of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. This win marks the first time in history Mexico has won an inaugural match, having previously suffered five losses and two draws in such games.

Julián Quiñones opened the scoring in the ninth minute after a defensive error by South Africa. Goalkeeper Ronwen Williams and defender Sphephepho Sithole miscommunicated, allowing Quiñones to capitalize and fire a shot into the corner of the net. Mexico dominated possession for much of the first half, with Raúl Jiménez testing Williams with a powerful left-footed shot in the fifth minute, and Quiñones hitting the post just before halftime.

The second half saw continued pressure from Mexico. Álvaro Fidalgo intercepted a misplaced pass, but South Africa's Ime Okon made a timely save. The match intensified when Sithole received a red card in the 49th minute for denying a goal-scoring opportunity, leaving South Africa with ten men.

Raúl Jiménez extended Mexico's lead in the 67th minute with a header, a significant moment for the striker who had previously undergone skull surgery. South Africa's struggles continued as Themba Zwane was sent off in the 84th minute, further reducing their numbers. Mexico's César Montes also received a red card near the end of the match, but the result was already secured.

Both teams will proceed to their second group stage matches on Wednesday. Mexico will face South Korea in Guadalajara, while South Africa will play the Czech Republic in Atlanta.