Mexico opened the 2026 World Cup with a 2-0 victory over South Africa on Thursday at Mexico City’s Azteca Stadium. Julián Quiñones scored the tournament’s first goal in the ninth minute, while veteran Raúl Jiménez added a second goal via a header in the 66th minute. Jiménez, who wears a protective headguard due to a fractured skull suffered in 2020, recorded his first World Cup goal with the strike. Mexico coach Javier Aguirre noted that while the team was superior in the first half, they could improve their performance. The match was notable for producing three red cards, the most ever recorded for a World Cup opening game. South Africa’s Sphephelo Sithole and Themba Zwane were both ejected, while Mexico’s César Montes received a red card in stoppage time. Both South African players are suspended for their next match against the Czech Republic. The tournament’s record for the most red cards in a single game remains four, set during a 2006 match between Portugal and the Netherlands. On Friday, the United States and Canada are scheduled to play their opening matches on home soil. Canada faces Bosnia-Herzegovina in Toronto, seeking their first World Cup win after a 0-3 record in 1986 and 2022. Bosnia-Herzegovina is making its first appearance since 2014. The United States will face Paraguay in Inglewood, California. Paraguay is the lowest-ranked team in Group D and returns to the tournament for the first time in 16 years. Also, South Korea defeated the Czech Republic 2-1 in Guadalajara on Thursday night. Regarding tournament logistics, FIFA President Gianni Infantino defended ticket prices, which start at $140 for group stages but reached up to $73,200 for hospitality seats at the final. Infantino also stated that FIFA was unable to secure the admission of a Somali referee by the U.S. Government.