Mexico defeated South Africa 2-0 to begin their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign with maximum points.
It was an ill-tempered affair that saw three red cards and Bafana Bafana finish with nine men.
Julian Quiñones gave the hosts the lead after a strong start in which Mexico dominated possession and also hit the post through the same player before half-time.
South Africa’s task became harder shortly after the break when Yaya Sithole was sent off for bringing down Brian Gutierrez just outside the penalty area, denying a clear goalscoring opportunity.
Mexico capitalised on their numerical advantage, with Raul Jimenez doubling the lead with a close-range header before South Africa’s disciplinary issues worsened when Themba Zwane was also shown a red card for violent conduct.
