World Cup round-up: Mexico and South Korea start with wins

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is underway after the opening fixtures of the tournament on Thursday.

Following a showbiz opening ceremony featuring Shakira and Burna Boy, co-hosts Mexico opened the tournament with a 2-0 win over South Korea. El Tri produced a professional performance at the historic Estadio Azteca, in a fixture that saw three red cards.

Julián Quiñones, fresh from a prolific campaign in the Saudi Pro League, opened the scoring for Mexico inside nine minutes, as his effort squeezed under South African goalkeeper Ronwen Williams .

South Africa struggled to create clear-cut opportunities and their challenge was all but ended when Yaya Sithole was sent off for a last-man challenge just five minutes into the second half.

Raul Jimenez doubled Mexico’s lead on 67 minutes, as the veteran poacher headed home his first World Cup goal from close range. There was late drama as the officials handed out two contentious red cards, with Themba Zwane sent off for South Africa for a slap, reducing them to nine men. Then, in stoppage time, Mexico’s Cesar Montes became the third player dismissed for a late foul.

In the second fixture of the group, South Korea staged a comeback to beat Czechia in Guadalajara.

The Asian outfit dominated the opening exchanges, but conceded an opener against the run of play. A long throw from Vladimir Coufal was met emphatically by Czech captain Ladislav Krejčí to power Miroslav Koubek’s side ahead.

South Korea kept on coming, however, and found an equaliser in style. The impressive Hwan In-beom showed brilliant composure to lift a finish over Matej Kovar and bring the Koreans level.