Certainly one of Africa’s 10 representatives on the 2026 FIFA World Cup, South Africa, kicked off their marketing campaign on a poor be aware final evening, overwhelmed 2-0 by co-host Mexico inside iconic Azteca Stadium in Mexico Metropolis.
In contrast to 16 years in the past when South Africa hosted the Mundial and had been pressured to a 1-1 within the opening sport like this by the El Tri , Bafana Bafana performed far beneath their energy from the primary minute. They had been removed from convincing and paid dearly for it conceding within the opening 10 minutes when Julian Quinones who performs his membership soccer with Al Qadsiah within the Saudi Arabian Professional League fired the winner. He cashed on a free ball by Yaya Sithole and fired the opener by way of the legs of Bafana’s goalkeeper, Ronwen Williams to ship the packed stadium into frenzy celebrations.
Nevertheless, Hugo Broos’ aspect discovered themselves decreased to 10-men within the forty ninth minute when the identical Sithole was dismissed for fouling Brian Gutierrez because the final man.
With time ticking to an hour and 7 minutes of play, Alex Iwobi’s teammate at Fulham, Raul Jimenez sealed the victory for Mexico. Jiménez proved why he is Mexico’s greatest purpose menace at this World Cup. The striker was sensible in opposition to South Africa, scoring one purpose and creating a number of possibilities for his staff.
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He was left in tears after celebrating his purpose, embraced by all his teammates who ran over to congratulate him.
He then pointed to the sky after strolling again to his half, maybe fascinated about his father, who handed away earlier this 12 months.
The spotlight of this opening sport of the 2026 version of the Mundial was the sending off of two extra gamers. Bafana’s substitute participant, Themba Zwane was proven a straight purple for altercation with Roberto Alvarado.
The hosts additionally misplaced a participant to purple card within the closing minutes when Cesar Montes was despatched off for a medical foul on Khuliso Mudau.
Mexico’s Group A rivals South Korea and Czech will start their World Cup campaigns once they face off in Guadalajara within the early hours of Friday morning.
The World Cup’s different host international locations, america and Canada will play their openers in a while Friday once they tackle Paraguayand Bosnia-Herzegovina, respectively.
RESULT
Mexico 2-0 South Africa
TODAY
FRIDAY June 12
S’Korea v Czech (3am)
Canada v Bosnia & Herz 8pm
SATURDAY June 13
USA v Paraguay (2am)
Qatar v Switzerland (8pm)
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Brazil v Morocco (11pm)
SUNDAY June 14
Haiti v Scotland (2am)
Australia v Turkey (5am)
Germany v Curaçao (6pm)
Netherlands v Japan (9pm)
