{"id":730593,"date":"2026-06-11T21:34:22","date_gmt":"2026-06-11T21:34:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/730593\/"},"modified":"2026-06-11T21:34:22","modified_gmt":"2026-06-11T21:34:22","slug":"2026-world-cup-live-updates-mexico-wins-opener-as-group-stage-action-begins-in-mexico-city","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/730593\/","title":{"rendered":"2026 World Cup live updates: Mexico wins opener as group stage action begins in Mexico City"},"content":{"rendered":"

The 2026 World Cup<\/a> is officially underway, with co-host Mexico<\/a> opening the tournament Thursday with a 2-0 win over South Africa<\/a> at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. Juli\u00e1n Qui\u00f1ones gave El Tri an early lead<\/a> with the first goal of the tournament just nine minutes in, before Ra\u00fal Jim\u00e9nez doubled the advantage in the second half to secure the victory in the opening match.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a historic setting for the start of the competition, with Estadio Azteca becoming the first stadium to host matches at three different men\u2019s World Cups, having previously staged games in 1970 and 1986.<\/p>\n

Advertisement<\/p>\n

Later Thursday, the action continues in Guadalajara, where South Korea<\/a> and Czechia meet at Estadio Akron to close out the opening day of group stage play<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The festivities began early Thursday with an Opening Ceremony featuring Shakira, Colombian singer J Balvin, Mexican pop-rock band Man\u00e1, as well as Latin music stars Belinda, Alejandro Fern\u00e1ndez, Los \u00c1ngeles Azules, Lila Downs and Danny Ocean.<\/p>\n

Group A<\/p>\n

10 p.m. ET (FS1): Korea Republic vs. Czechia, Estadio Akron (Guadalajara, Mexico)<\/p>\n

Follow along with Yahoo Sports for the latest as the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off.<\/p>\n

Live64 updates<\/p>\n

Thu, June 11, 2026 at 12:38 PM PDT<\/p>\n

\"SeanThu, June 11, 2026 at 2:23 PM PDT<\/p>\n

Sean Leahy<\/p>\n

\"KariThu, June 11, 2026 at 2:05 PM PDT<\/p>\n

Kari Anderson<\/p>\n

A powerful start for Mexico, who gets a dominant 2-0 victory over South Africa at home to open the tournament. It\u2019s a start to forget for South Africa, who was really never in it from the beginning.<\/p>\n

The chippy game ended with three straight reds, ending the game at 10-on-9 and marking the first game in 20 years with three reds. A game with more reds than goals is quite the way to kick off the 2026 World Cup, but it was certainly an opener to remember.<\/p>\n

\"KariThu, June 11, 2026 at 2:02 PM PDT<\/p>\n

Kari Anderson<\/p>\n

And yet another straight red in this game, this time to Mexico’s C\u00e9sar Montes. Montes is flagged for denial of an obvious goal-scoring opportunity after chasing down a South Africa forward and hitting a poor full-body tackle.<\/p>\n

Mexico will finish the game 10-vs-9, and Montes will be out the next game.<\/p>\n

Today’s match is now the first-ever opening game with three reds.<\/p>\n

\"KariThu, June 11, 2026 at 1:59 PM PDT<\/p>\n

Kari Anderson<\/p>\n

Between a goal and two red cards, a lengthy span of stoppage time was likely. Mexico will have seven minutes to ice this victory.<\/p>\n

\"KariThu, June 11, 2026 at 1:56 PM PDT<\/p>\n

Kari Anderson<\/p>\n

\"KariThu, June 11, 2026 at 1:52 PM PDT<\/p>\n

Kari Anderson<\/p>\n

Things just got significantly worse for South Africa, as veteran midfielder Themba Zwane is given a straight red card for appearing to claw at the face of Roberto Alvarado. The foul was initially missed by officials, but after a short VAR review, Zwane is sent off, leaving South Africa with nine players.<\/p>\n

Both Zwane and Sithole will be out for the next match for South Africa.<\/p>\n

\"KariThu, June 11, 2026 at 1:46 PM PDT<\/p>\n

Kari Anderson<\/p>\n

Juli\u00e1n Qui\u00f1ones, the other goalscorer, is taken out for Alexis Vega.<\/p>\n

\"KariThu, June 11, 2026 at 1:45 PM PDT<\/p>\n

Kari Anderson<\/p>\n

A pair of subs for both teams as the game astart to wind towards its end.<\/p>\n

For Mexico, \u00c9rik Lira and Ra\u00fal Jim\u00e9nez are out, replaced by Edson \u00c1lvarez and Armando Gonz\u00e1lez.<\/p>\n

For South Africa, Iqraam Rayners and Aubrey Modiba are replaced by Evidence Makgopa and Oswin Appollis.<\/p>\n

\"KariThu, June 11, 2026 at 1:41 PM PDT<\/p>\n

Kari Anderson<\/p>\n

Another yellow card given to South Africa, this time awarded to defender Nkosinathi Sibisi for throwing an elbow to the face of Juli\u00e1n Qui\u00f1ones. The frustration from the South African players is clearly growing.<\/p>\n

\"NickThu, June 11, 2026 at 1:41 PM PDT<\/p>\n

Nick Bromberg<\/p>\n

With eight of the 12 third-place teams making the Round of 32, not all hope is lost to make the knockout rounds for South Africa. However, it’ll likely need a draw and a win over its two games against South Korea and Czechia \u2026 while also getting to a neutral goal differential.<\/p>\n

Giving up a third to Mexico would be a near-disaster.<\/p>\n

\"KariThu, June 11, 2026 at 1:38 PM PDT<\/p>\n

Kari Anderson<\/p>\n

\"KariThu, June 11, 2026 at 1:38 PM PDT<\/p>\n

Kari Anderson<\/p>\n

Mexican striker Ra\u00fal Jim\u00e9nez hits a beautiful header off a long cross from Roberto Alvarado, giving Mexico a 2-0 lead<\/p>\n

\"KariThu, June 11, 2026 at 1:34 PM PDT<\/p>\n

Kari Anderson<\/p>\n

Teenage midfielder Gilberto Mora is entering the match for \u00c1lvaro Fidalgo. Luis Ch\u00e1vez also comes in for Brian Guti\u00e9rrez.<\/p>\n

\"SeanThu, June 11, 2026 at 1:29 PM PDT<\/p>\n

Sean Leahy<\/p>\n

With under a half hour to play, Mexico remains in control, but only hold a 1-0 lead. While South Africa is down to 10 men, one misplay could lead to disaster if El Tri don\u2019t manage to add an insurance goal and really put this match out of reach.<\/p>\n

\"SeanThu, June 11, 2026 at 1:28 PM PDT<\/p>\n

Sean Leahy<\/p>\n

Themba Zwane comes on for Jayden Adams.<\/p>\n

\"SeanThu, June 11, 2026 at 1:24 PM PDT<\/p>\n

Sean Leahy<\/p>\n

Lyle Foster replaces Thalente Mbatha as South Africa looks for an equalizer.<\/p>\n

\"Soccer<\/p>\n

Soccer Football – FIFA World Cup 2026 – Group A – Mexico v South Africa – Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, Mexico – June 11, 2026 South Africa’s Sphephelo Sithole fouls Mexico’s Brian Gutierrez and is later sent off REUTERS\/Hannah Mckay<\/p>\n

(REUTERS \/ REUTERS)\"NickThu, June 11, 2026 at 1:21 PM PDT<\/p>\n

Nick Bromberg<\/p>\n

Sithole had the giveaway that led to Mexico\u2019s first \u2014 and only, so far \u2014 goal and now will miss the rest of the group stage because. of his red card. He could end up only playing 50 minutes all tournament if South Africa doesn\u2019t move on.<\/p>\n

\"SeanThu, June 11, 2026 at 1:20 PM PDT<\/p>\n

Sean Leahy<\/p>\n

\"SeanThu, June 11, 2026 at 1:18 PM PDT<\/p>\n

Sean Leahy<\/p>\n

Ra\u00fal Jim\u00e9nez\u2019s free kick goes right into the South Africa wall and a follow-up opportunity goes wide as Bafana Bafana are down to nine men.<\/p>\n

\"SeanThu, June 11, 2026 at 1:17 PM PDT<\/p>\n

Sean Leahy<\/p>\n

Brian Guti\u00e9rrez is fouled just outside of the South Africa penalty box by Sphephelo Sithole. With Guti\u00e9rrez being in on goal and Sithole the last man back, a red card has been handed out and Sithole will sit for two matches.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The 2026 World Cup is officially underway, with co-host Mexico opening the tournament Thursday with a 2-0 win…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":730594,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[440],"tags":[21898,263120,49,48,263118,70087,151660,263119,1072,8361,561,5685,18262,82],"class_list":["post-730593","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-soccer","tag-2026-world-cup","tag-alejandro-fernandez","tag-ca","tag-canada","tag-estadio-akron","tag-estadio-azteca","tag-guadalajara","tag-julian-quinones","tag-mexico","tag-mexico-city","tag-soccer","tag-south-africa","tag-south-korea","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/730593","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=730593"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/730593\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/730594"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=730593"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=730593"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=730593"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}