World Cup 2026 Opens: Mexico Wins, Korea Rallies

Sport

By lines

June 12, 2026

The 2026 World Cup kicked off on June 11 across North America. Mexico beat South Africa 2-0 in the tournament’s opening match. South Korea then rallied past Czechia 2-1 on the same opening day.

Mexico And South Korea Set The Tone On Opening Day

Mexico defeated South Africa 2-0 at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. Julian Quinones scored for Mexico in the ninth minute. Julian Quinones cut inside and ripped a right-footed shot home. Raul Jimenez doubled the lead with a header in the 67th minute. Roberto Alvarado supplied the cross on Raul Jimenez’s goal.

Referees showed three red cards during the Mexico match. South Africa received two red cards and Mexico received one. That total set a record for an opening World Cup game. Estadio Azteca became the first venue to host three different World Cups. Estadio Azteca previously staged the 1970 and 1986 World Cup finals.

South Africa finished the Mexico match with nine players after two red cards. Mexico played the closing minutes with ten players after its own dismissal. Mexico still kept a clean sheet against a depleted South Africa side. The 2-0 scoreline handed Mexico an early goal-difference edge in its group.

The World Cup returned to Mexico 40 years after the 1986 edition. Mexico now serves as a co-host alongside the United States and Canada. The Estadio Azteca crowd celebrated the return with an emotional reception. Mexico opened its home World Cup with a win and a clean sheet.

South Korea beat Czechia 2-1 in Guadalajara on opening day. Hwang In-Beom sparked the South Korea comeback after Czechia scored first. Son Heung-Min missed several scoring chances for South Korea. South Korea claimed three points despite Son Heung-Min’s finishing struggles. The Guadalajara match drew sparse crowds with hundreds of empty seats.

Son Heung-Min captains South Korea at the 2026 World Cup. Son Heung-Min entered the tournament as South Korea’s main attacking threat. Hwang In-Beom instead delivered the decisive moments against Czechia. South Korea will need sharper finishing from Son Heung-Min in later matches.

The 2026 World Cup features 48 teams for the first time. The expanded tournament spans 16 host cities across three host nations. Mexico and South Korea each banked three points from their openers. Both winners now sit atop their groups after one match.

The United States men’s team opens its 2026 World Cup campaign next. The USMNT shares hosting duties with Mexico and Canada. Argentina and Brazil enter the 48-team field as title favorites. Group-stage results will shape the knockout bracket over the coming weeks.