World Cup begins with Mexico defeating South Africa 2-0

The FIFA World Cup kicked off at the iconic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City with a vibrant opening ceremony, followed by the inaugural group match where host nation Mexico secured a 2-0 victory over South Africa.

Julian Quinones ignited the tournament by scoring the earliest World Cup goal since 2006 in the ninth minute, capitalizing on a turnover. Raul Jimenez later sealed the win for Mexico with a second goal. The match was intense, marked by three red cards, including one for South Africa in the 50th minute after a foul outside the box.

Mexico extended its impressive undefeated streak across all competitions against African teams, with their last loss dating back to 2005. The Estadio Azteca hosted its 20th World Cup match, more than any other stadium in tournament history, reinforcing its status as a legendary venue. Mexico maintained its perfect record at the stadium.

Despite a strong start from South Africa, whose players were making their World Cup debuts, Mexico leveraged its home advantage. Mexico dominated possession and created numerous chances, putting sustained pressure on the South African defense throughout the first half, leading 1-0 at halftime.

“

Dai Dai