MexicovsSouth Africa

Result

Mexico pressed South Africa into the tournament's first mistake — Erik Lira picked Sphephelo Sithole's pocket on the edge of the box and Julián Quiñones finished inside nine minutes — and controlled the rest: 61% of the ball, 16 shots to 3, and Raúl Jiménez's thumping 67th-minute header from Roberto Alvarado's cross, his first goal in three World Cups. The other story was discipline: a straight red for Sithole as last man (49'), a post-VAR red for substitute Themba Zwane (84'), and a stoppage-time dismissal for Mexico captain César Montes — three reds, the most an opening World Cup match has ever seen.

Mexico 4-1-4-15-3-2 South Africa

Mexico

South Africa

Julián Quiñones9'

Raúl Jiménez67'

Brian Gutiérrez23'

Nkosinathi Sibisi

César Montes90+2'

Sphephelo Sithole49'

Themba Zwane84'

61%Possession39%

16Shots3

4On target2

2Saves2

3Corners1

467Passes completed272

90%Pass accuracy81%

11Tackles14

20Touches in box2

Substitutions

Gilberto Morafor Álvaro Fidalgoat 66'

Thalente Mbathafor Lyle Fosterat 56'

Luis Chávezfor Brian Gutiérrezat 66'

Themba Zwanefor Jayden Adams

Armando Gonzálezfor Raúl Jiménezat 67'

Evidence Makgopa

Edson Álvarezfor Erik Liraat 76'

Alexis Vegafor Julián Quiñonesat 79'

At this Stage

One matchday in, Group A has already sorted itself into winners and homework: Mexico and Korea Republic took three points apiece, Czechia and South Africa took none. Goal difference is all that separates the top two — Mexico's 2-0 over South Africa a notch cleaner than Korea Republic's 2-1 over Czechia — and it puts the hosts first, which is where the Azteca assumed the night would leave them. The margins below are just as thin: Czechia at least scored in defeat, which is worth third place for now; South Africa didn't, and finished with nine men besides. Two results settle nothing, but the hosts could hardly have asked for a cleaner start — points banked, sheet clean, group led.

Group A

Team	P	W	D	L	GD	Pts
Mexico	1	1	0	0	+2	3
Korea Republic	1	1	0	0	+1	3
Czechia	1	0	0	1	-1	0
South Africa	1	0	0	1	-2	0

Top two (above the accent line) advance to the round of 32; the third-placed team is in the race for one of the eight best-third spots.

What we know now