Mexico 2-0 South Africa: El Tri Off to Flying Start
Quinones Scores Earliest World Cup Opener Since 2006, Mora Makes Historic Teenage Debut
Co-hosts Mexico began their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign with a commanding 2-0 victory over South Africa at Mexico City Stadium, thanks to goals from Julian Quinones and Raul Jimenez.
Quinones opened the scoring in the ninth minute, pouncing on a defensive lapse from Sphephelo Sithole and firing through Ronwen Williams’ legs.
His strike was the earliest opening goal at a World Cup since Philipp Lahm’s effort in 2006. The forward later played a crucial role in Mexico’s second, combining with Jimenez and Roberto Alvarado before Jimenez nodded home at the back post in the 67th minute.
South Africa’s hopes of a comeback were dashed when Sithole was sent off early in the second half for a foul on Jimenez. The match ended in chaotic fashion, with Themba Zwane and Mexico’s Cesar Montes both shown red cards, but El Tri held firm to secure three points and top Group A.
The game also marked a historic debut for Gilberto Mora, who at 17 years and 240 days became the sixth-youngest player to appear in a World Cup, joining the ranks of prodigies like Pelé, Samuel Eto’o, and Norman Whiteside.
Quinones, named Man of the Match, reflected on the occasion: ‘I’m happy and excited to score my first World Cup goal, in such a spectacular stadium with amazing fans. It’s important for me to acknowledge what my team-mates did to secure the first three points. We’ve felt the support of the fans these past few days. We’re united and today it really showed.’
