Mexico 2-0 South Africa: Forty Years Later, the Azteca Delivers Again
By Diego Anaya7 min read
Estadio Azteca, Mexico City — Mexico dominated the 2026 FIFA World Cup opening match, securing a comfortable 2-0 victory over South Africa under Javier Aguirre. Goals from Julián Quiñones and Raúl Jiménez in either half propelled El Tri to a flying start, leaving a nine-man South Africa struggling to generate any attacking momentum.
The host nation's World Cup is underway, and for the first time in a long time, el quinto partido feels less like a ceiling and more like a starting point.
How it happened
9' — 1-0, Quiñones. The opener arrived almost before the occasion could settle. Sphephelo Sithole was caught in possession in a dangerous area, Mexico pounced, and Quiñones finished clinically — the first goal of the 2026 World Cup and the perfect antidote to decades of opening-night anxiety.
66' — 2-0, Jiménez. The second was a header from the veteran striker, the kind of finish that rewards patience when a match has already tilted your way. With it, Jiménez tied Jared Borgetti for second on the all-time Mexican men's scoring list — a milestone on the grandest possible stage.
The rest was control. South Africa never found a route back into the game, and discipline unraveled on their end: Sithole, already at the heart of the first goal, was sent off; Themba Zwane followed after a VAR review for violent conduct. César Montes saw red for Mexico deep in stoppage time, a blemish on an otherwise commanding night.
Three takeaways
- Aguirre's Mexico set the tempo. El Tri held more than 60% possession and played at a speed South Africa could not match. Johan Vásquez orchestrated from the back, completing 92.6% of his passes — the kind of composure a home World Cup demands.
- South Africa offered almost nothing in attack. An xG of 0.07 tells the story: two shots on target, neither troubling Raúl Rangel. Against this level of opponent, on this stage, that is a terminal opening-night stat line.
- The curse is broken. Mexico had failed to win their opening World Cup match for generations. Thursday ended that run — and sent a message to Group A that the hosts intend to lead it.
Standout performers
| Player | Note |
|---|---|
| Raúl Rangel | Untroubled; South Africa never seriously tested him |
| Johan Vásquez | 92.6% pass accuracy; Mexico's build-up ran through him |
| Julián Quiñones | Early goal off a turnover; set the tone in the ninth minute |
| Raúl Jiménez | Header to seal it; tied Borgetti for second on Mexico's all-time list |
What's next
The win puts Mexico temporarily atop Group A and in an excellent position to advance. South Africa will need a major tactical reset after an opening mismatch that left them short-handed and short on ideas.
South Korea await at Estadio Akron in Guadalajara on June 18. The dream is alive — and for one night at least, the country is talking about the first match, not the fifth.