Red-Card Record Set in World Cup Opener

Darwin, 12 June : Have there ever been three red cards in a World Cup opening match? The 2026 FIFA World Cup opener between Mexico and South Africa delivered exactly that.

The previous record for red cards in a World Cup match came in the Round of 16 clash between Portugal and the Netherlands at the 2006 World Cup, where four players were sent off—two from each team.

Since that infamous encounter, this was the first World Cup match in which one team received two red cards. South Africa set that unwanted record.

In a highly charged contest, Mexico cruised to a commanding 2-0 victory over a South African side reduced to nine men in the second half. Backed by their home supporters, the Mexicans secured a comfortable win.

Remarkably, the entire 2022 Qatar World Cup saw only four red cards across 64 matches. This year, three red cards were shown in the very first game of the tournament.

The 2018 World Cup in Russia also produced just four red cards throughout the entire competition.

Following a spectacular opening ceremony at the historic Azteca Stadium in Mexico City, the first whistle of the 2026 FIFA World Cup was blown at 1:00 AM Bangladesh time on Thursday night.

In front of nearly 80,000 spectators, Mexico began aggressively and quickly found the breakthrough. Julián Quiñones put the hosts ahead in the ninth minute after receiving a pass from Erik Lira. The 29-year-old forward scored the first goal of the 2026 World Cup.

Quiñones was born in Colombia and represented the country’s youth teams before choosing to play international football for Mexico.

Mexico doubled their lead in the 67th minute through Wolverhampton Wanderers striker Raúl Jiménez, who scored his first-ever World Cup goal.

Before Jiménez found the net, South Africa had already been reduced to ten men. Sifhelo Yaya Sithole was shown a red card in the 50th minute, becoming the first player sent off at this World Cup. South Africa’s Tebogo Mokoena had earlier received the tournament’s first yellow card.

South Africa’s situation worsened in the 84th minute when Temba Joane was also sent off, leaving his side with just nine players.

Deep into stoppage time, referee Wilton Sampaio produced a third red card, this time for Mexico defender César Montes.

Mexico dominated proceedings throughout the match. Both teams are competing in Group A of the tournament.

The game also saw history made by Mexico’s 17-year-old midfielder Gilberto Mora, who became the first footballer born after the 2006 World Cup final to play in a World Cup match after coming on as a substitute.

Meanwhile, Quiñones became the first player from the CONCACAF region to score in the opening match of a FIFA World Cup.

Interestingly, South Africa also faced Mexico in the opening match of the 2010 World Cup, which they hosted. That match, played on June 11 at Soccer City in Johannesburg, ended in a 1-1 draw. Sixteen years later, the two nations met again in a World Cup opener—this time with Mexico emerging victorious as the host nation.