World Cup 2026 round-up and highlights – Matchday 1: Mexico and South Korea get off to winning starts in Group A

Mexico 2-0 South Africa (Group A)

The World Cup has got underway and it was full of action in the opening match as co-hosts Mexico beat South Africa 2-0 in the curtain-raising match.

Julian Quinones opened the scoring on nine minutes to send the majority of the 80,000-plus crowd at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City into raptures.

South Africa’s task was made harder just after half-time when Sphephelo Sithole was sent off. Raul Jimenez made it 2-0 on 67 minutes for the Mexicans before a further two red cards followed. Themba Zwane was giving his marching orders on 84 minutes to reduce South Africa to nine men, before the hosts performance was soured in second-half stoppage time when Cesar Montes was giving his marching orders.

South Korea 2-1 Czechia (Group A)

The other match in Group A saw South Korea come from behind to beat Czechia 2-1.

After a goalless first half Ladislav Krejci put the Europeans ahead on 59 minutes. However, just eight minutes later South Korea levelled though Hwang In-beom and then turned the game on it’s head when Oh Hyeon-gyu scored on 80 minutes.