4 min readJun 12, 2026 10:35 PM IST
First published on: Jun 12, 2026 at 06:03 AM IST
The FIFA World Cup began in Mexico City on Thursday night (Friday morning in India) with a power-packed series of performances from local Mexican artists and a show-stopping performance from a certain Shakira during the Opening Ceremony. Salma Hayek was a surprise performer.
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But the real headline act of day 1 of the FIFA World Cup proved to be the clash between Mexico and South Africa which the host nation won 2-0. It was a game that saw plenty of drama.
Lots of sombreros were flung in the air by Mexican fans before the game started. But the 80,000+ fans truly lost their minds when Julian Quinones scored in the ninth minute for Mexico to give the home country a 1-0 lead. The 29-year-old Quinones was born in Colombia, and currently plays in the Saudi league. In Saudi Pro League, he was the top scorer this season. He was one of six starting players who made their World Cup debut for El Tri.
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It took a long time for Mexico to double their lead, even though they had attack after attack in the game. Eventually, Raul Jimenez gave them the cushion of a two-goal lead in the 67th minute.
Roberto Alvarado, who assisted Raul Jimenez’s goal, was quoted by FIFA as saying: “It was a really beautiful feeling, something beyond words, something I had always dreamed of: playing a match of this magnitude, at home, with these fans.”
The talking point from the game was the three red cards shown by referee Wilton Sampaio, one with the help of VAR.
Sampaio sent off South Africa pair Sphephelo Sithole and Themba Zwane before Mexico’s Cesar Montes was also sent home in the 92nd minute when the game was dead and dusted.
Why this is a big deal is that in the last World Cup in 2022, a total of four red cards were shown across 64 games. And in the first game of 2026, that count is already almost matched.
It was the first time there were three red cards given in the opening match of a World Cup tournament. And it’s the most in a World Cup game since four were handed out when Portugal played the Netherlands at the 2006 tournament in Germany.
History at 17
The game saw some history being made by Gilberto Mora, who at 17 years and 240 days, became the sixth-youngest player to make a World Cup appearance. Mora came in as a second half substitute.
The five men ahead of him are Pele (17 years and 235 days), Salomon Olembe (17 years and 185 days), Femi Opabunmi (17 years and 101 days), Samuel Eto’o (17 years and 99 days) and Norman Whiteside (17 years and 41 days).
Haiti’s jersey red flagged by FIFA
Haiti have had to change their apparel for the FIFA World Cup because their jersey design has been deemed too political by FIFA. This is because the jersey had a depiction of the final battle of the Haitian War of Independence in 1803 on its front.
Haiti midfielder Dominique Simon reacts following an unsuccessful scoring attempt during the second half of an international friendly soccer match against Peru, Friday, June 5, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo)
The jersey was made by Colombian sportswear manufacturer Saeta. Its claim that the design “was not intended as a political statement,” but rather as a “tribute to the men and women who contribute every day to Haiti’s future” was not accepted by the global governing body of football.
This comes just months after the country had to tweak its Winter Olympic uniforms. The International Olympic Committee had demanded that Haiti remove the image of Haitian founding father Toussaint Louverture from their opening ceremony uniforms for the Milan Cortina Winter Games.
Haiti’s World Cup campaign starts on Saturday against Scotland in Foxborough.
(With inputs from Associated Press)
Mexico's Raul Jimenez celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the World Cup Group A soccer match between Mexico and South Africa in Mexico City, Thursday, June 11, 2026. (AP Photo) 
Haiti midfielder Dominique Simon reacts following an unsuccessful scoring attempt during the second half of an international friendly soccer match against Peru, Friday, June 5, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo)
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