Mexico responds to Azteca with a triumphant debut

The Mexican team beat South Africa (2-0) this Thursday in the first match of the 2026 World Cup that is also held in the United States and Canada, thanks to the goals of Julián Quiñones and Raúl Jiménez, one in each half in the legendary Azteca Stadium, renamed by FIFA for the tournament as Mexico City.

The North American team contributed to the total party by taking the first step to be in the crossroads within Group A that they also share with South Korea and the Czech Republic. Javier Aguirre’s men took advantage of a bad game by ‘Bafana Bafana’, who returned to the World Cup 16 years later with a poor approach.

‘El Tri’ knew how to manage the weight of history and a long wait in the locker room tunnel while the whole world counted down. The FIFA fireworks let the ball roll and Mexico took advantage of the rival’s poor staging. South Africa planted the bus behind but without anyone at the wheel and Raúl Jiménez had a very clear first chance after four minutes.

At nine, the host achieved the dream start. South Africa failed to get the ball out with Yaya Sithole, overtaken by Erik Lira, and Quiñones made it 1-0, the first goal of the 23rd World Cup. The inspired Al-Qadisiyah striker this season extended the celebration at the Azteca even more and gave calm to his team, perhaps too much, because Mexico did not take advantage of the moment to seek the second.

Some timid South Africa against was enough to make the ‘Tri’ doubt, also lacking in football in their preparation, although the ‘Bafana Bafana’ had a shot on goal at half-time and it was from 30 metres. Before going to the locker room, Aguirre’s men showed quality in their boots to stand against Ronwen Williams.

The goalkeeper of Mamelodi Sundowns, champions of the Champions League, stretched to clear a poisoned cross and had luck on his side on a Quiñones post. Brian Gutiérrez also failed to finish off a good Mexican play, but the best goalkeeper in Africa was not spared another bad start in the second half, when he was close to giving Gutiérrez himself the 2-0 lead.

Hugo Broos’s bet also failed after the restart, with Sithole denied a match and seeing a straight red card as the last defender. The veteran Belgian coach removed his striker Lyle Foster but shortly after gave some creativity to the midfield with Themba Zwane and a new reference with Oswin Appollis, perhaps already too late. Mexico hit (2-0) with Jiménez to avoid seeing the obligation to score against a rival against the ropes grow.

The veteran forward’s header coincided with the entrance of Gilberto Mora, a 17-year-old player who chanted his name in the Azteca, the only stadium in history to open three World Cups. ‘El Tri’ responded to the party although at the end he regretted the expulsion of center back César Montes. Worse was South Africa, with a red card also for Zwane after the VAR warning, to begin with very touched.

TECHNICAL SHEET.

–RESULT: MEXICO, 2 – SOUTH AFRICA, 0. (1-0, at halftime).

–ALIGNMENTS.

MEXICO: Rangel; Reyes, Montes, Vásquez, Gallardo; Lira (Álvarez, min.76), Fidalgo (Chávez, min.66), Brian Gutiérrez (Mora, min.66); Alvarado, Quiñones (Vega, min.79) and Jiménez (González, min.76).

SOUTH AFRICA: Williams; Mudau, Sibisi, Okon, Mbozaki, Modiba (Apollis, min.77); Adams (Zwane, min.61), Prince, Sithole; Foster (Mbatha, 56 mins) and Rayners (77 mins).

–GOALS:

1 – 0, min.9, Quiñones.

2 – 0, min.67, Jiménez.

–REFEREE: Wilton Sampaio (BRA). He cautioned (Gutiérrez, min.23) from Mexico. And to Mokoena (min.17) and Sibisi (min.74) in South Africa. He sent off Montes (min.92), Sithole (min.49) and Zwane (min.84) for a straight red card.

–STADIUM: Mexico City, 80,824 spectators.