Mexico and Korea Republic successful on FIFA World Cup 2026™ opening day

FIFA’s global football extravaganza, the FIFA World Cup, kicked off with a pair of matches in Mexico, both from Group A, following an Opening Ceremony that featured the sounds of Shakira and Burna Boy performing the official World Cup song ‘Dai, Dai’.

After the flags of the competing nations were introduced, Andrea Bocelli and EJAE sang the Official World Cup Anthem, and it was down to the action.

Group A

Mexico 2 South Africa 0

In front of a rocking Estadio Azteca in Mexico City one of the trio of hosts, Mexico, got their World Cup campaign off to the perfect start with a 2-0 win over nine-man South Africa in a match that featured three red cards. Julian Quiñones had the honour of scoring the opening goal of the tournament, rifling home from the edge of the area inside ten minutes, and Raúl Jiménez made the points safe with a bullet header midway through the second half.

By that stage South Africa had been reduced to ten men, midfielder Sphephelo Sithole dismissed for bringing down Jimenez five minutes into the second half. Mexico later introduced their youngest World Cup player ever in 17-year-old Gilberto Mora before Themba Zwane became the second Bafana Bafana player dismissed. Mexico’s César Montes joined Zwane in the changing rooms, sent off in stoppage time.

Group A

Korea Republic 2 Czechia 1

Korea Republic came from behind to claim three vital points with a 2-1 Group A win over Czechia in Guadalajara. Second half goals from Hwang In-beom and Oh Hyeon-gyu stunned the Europeans who had taken the lead in the 58^th minute. Son Heung-min looked the most likely for Korea early and both he and Lee Jae-sung were brilliantly denied by Czechia goalkeeper Matěj Kovář.

The deadlock was broken just before the hour mark in straightforward fashion. Valdimir Coufal launched a long thrown into the Korean area which was met by the onrushing captain Ladislav Krejčí to send a header past Seung-Gyu Kim. Korea equalised with a superlative individual goal by Hwang In-beom and, after Tomáš Souček had a goal ruled out for offside, Korea substitute Oh Hyeon-gyu popped up inside the six-yard box to net the matchwinner.