The 2026 FIFA World Cup began in unforgettable fashion in Mexico City, where the opening match set the tone for a very entertaining competition. Remember that the best place to bet on major football tournaments is the 1xBet Bangladesh site, which you can join today.
Held at the iconic Estadio Azteca, the game brought together hosts Mexico and South Africa in front of a roaring crowd that turned the historic stadium into a wall of noise long before kickoff.
From the first whistle on June 11, Mexico imposed an aggressive rhythm that reflected both the weight of expectation and the energy of playing on home soil. South Africa, meanwhile, struggled to settle into possession, often forced into hurried clearances as Mexico pressed high and attacked in waves. The early minutes were messy rather than polished, as it had a lot of 3 elements:
- misplaced passes;
- heavy touches;
- and rapid transitions.
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A contest that broke an indiscipline record
The atmosphere inside the legendary Estadio Azteca added to the intensity. Every tackle drew a reaction, every forward run triggered noise, and every moment of hesitation from either side seemed amplified by the scale of the occasion. It was not a calm tactical opening to a global tournament, but something far more chaotic and emotionally charged.
Mexico had an almost perfect start when Julián Quiñones scored the first goal of the competition in the 9th minute. Then, as the match wore on, the intensity crossed the line into indiscipline. But also, there were 3 straight red cards that transformed an already frantic contest into one of the most extraordinary World Cup openers in history.
South Africa were reduced to 10 men when Sphephelo Sithole was dismissed for denying Brian Gutiérrez a clear scoring opportunity in the 50th minute. In the 69th minute, Raúl Jiménez put the decisive 2-0 in Mexico’s favor.
But there was more action, because in the 84th, Themba Zwane was sent off after a VAR review for striking Roberto Alvarado in the face. Of course, with Mexico winning 2-0 and South Africa with 9 players the result was settled. But there was still more to come.
Deep into stoppage time, Mexico also finished with 10 players after César Montes was shown a straight red for hauling down Khuliso Mudau. The dismissals added another layer of drama to a match that already felt defined by emotion, physicality, and constant swings in momentum.
