The 2026 World Cup started with a jolt: Mexico won amid rare disciplinary chaos, and South Korea rallied in Guadalajara to leave Group A unsettled. For Canada, that meant one thing before its own first kick: the tournament had already set a fierce tone.
Mexico set the pace in a brutal opener
The first match at Estadio Azteca delivered noise, emotion, and history. More than 80,000 fans watched Mexico face South Africa in a ceremony backed by Shakira and Maná, then saw the hosts take control almost immediately. Erik Lira forced the opening mistake in the ninth minute, Julián Quiñones finished through Ronwen Williams, and the tournament had its first goal before the crowd had fully settled.
The second Mexican goal carried even more weight. Raúl Jiménez, whose career was once threatened by a severe skull fracture, scored his first World Cup goal and reacted with clear emotion. That moment alone would have made the night memorable, but the match became famous for something else: three red cards, which made it the most heavily punished World Cup opener on record and the first match in two decades to feature that many dismissals.
South Africa lost Sphephelo Sithole in the first half and Themba Zwane after a video review caught violent contact with Roberto Alvarado. Mexico later went down to ten as César Montes was sent off for stopping a breakaway. All three players will miss the next group match, which only increases the pressure on a group already feeling unstable.
| Match | Result | Main Turning Point | Notable Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mexico vs. South Africa | 2-0 | Early goals from Quiñones and Jiménez | Three red cards and a historic opener |
| South Korea vs. Czechia | 2-1 | Late winner by Oh Hyeon-gyu | A comeback built on control and patience |
South Korea answered with patience and belief
The second Group A match was far calmer in style but no less important in result. South Korea trailed Czechia after Ladislav Krejčí scored from a long throw in the 59th minute, a reminder that set pieces still matter in major tournaments. From that point, South Korea took over the match with sharper passing and more composure in the final third.
The equalizer was the best goal of the day. Lee Kang-in found Hwang In-beom, who used a quick feint to create space before finishing into the corner. The move included 25 passes, one of the longest sequences ever seen before a World Cup goal. Czechia briefly thought it had regained the lead through Tomáš Souček, but the goal was erased for offside after review. Minutes later, substitute Oh Hyeon-gyu scored the winner despite admitting he had played while battling a 38-degree fever.
Kim Seung-gyu then protected the lead with a key late save, and South Korea finished the match looking more dangerous than its opponent. The performance also extended Son Heung-min’s place in national-team history, as he joined Hong Myung-bo as one of only two South Koreans to appear at four World Cups.
- Mexico and South Korea finished opening day tied on three points.
- Mexico led Group A on goal difference after its 2-0 win.
- South Africa and Czechia both left without points and with issues to solve quickly.
Canada now enters a tournament that has already turned loud
For Canadian supporters, Thursday served as the setup rather than the main event. Canada opens its campaign Friday at BMO Field in Toronto against Bosnia and Herzegovina, in the first men’s World Cup match ever played on Canadian soil. Jesse Marsch’s team will then continue its group stage in Vancouver at BC Place, where it will face Qatar and Switzerland after the Toronto opener.
The message from the first day was clear: this tournament will reward sharp starts, quick adjustments, and calm under pressure. Mexico needed both skill and discipline to survive the opener, while South Korea needed patience and resilience to complete its comeback. Canada now steps into that same environment with a home crowd behind it and no shortage of attention on what comes next.