Where It All Began... | Mexico v South Africa | 2026 World Cup EXTENDED HIGHLIGHTS
2026 World Cup opener: Mexico beat South Africa 2-0 with more red cards than goals as Jimenez and Williams stand out
This extended highlights package covers Mexico v South Africa in the World Cup opener. Mexico took the lead after a high press and then extended it through Jimenez for a 2-0 win; South Africa had two players sent off and Mexico's Cesar Montes was also red-carded. The commentary focuses on Williams's saves, Mexico's pressing, Jimenez's movement, and the red-card calls.
- Goalkeeper Williams's save may be one of the saves of this World Cup — Jimenez got into a scoring position and hit a decent strike, but Williams produced an excellent save inside the opening five minutes.
- South Africa's poor ball out from the back let Mexico's high press directly create the goal — Williams's pass was intercepted, Mexico pressed aggressively, and the attack was finished quickly.
- Jimenez's movement caused South Africa real problems, and defenders watching the ball instead of the danger man is a recipe for disaster — The pass was intelligent, Jimenez was on the move, and although there was an offside question, the defenders failed to track him.
- South Africa did not learn the lessons of the first half, and this piece of play was extremely poor — They played the ball straight to a Mexico player and then made a risky challenge in a dangerous area.
- There was no way around the red card because the foul denied a clear goal-scoring opportunity — The referee gave a free kick and then judged it a denial of a goal-scoring opportunity, so South Africa had no reprieve.
- Once Jimenez made it 2-0 the game was basically over, and it was a typical experienced striker's goal — He got away from defenders, attacked the space, stayed onside, and picked the right finish.
- South Africa's sending-off was deserved, and VAR was right to look at it — The first coming-together may not have been the issue, but the secondary movement that caught Alvarado was the key.
- There was a foul on a teammate before South Africa's counterattack, but the referee did not give it — Mexico players pointed to the other end in protest, feeling a teammate had been fouled earlier; the referee disagreed, and the counterattack led to Cesar Montes's red card.
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Transcript
Never before have two sides faced off in a World Cup opening game twice. But today it happens for the first time. 16 years to the day since they met in Johannesburg. Today it's Mexico City's turn to play host. And at an altitude of 2,400 m. First of 104 World Cup matches between now and the 12th of July. It's just minutes away. And this place is an absolute fever pitch. Jimenez whose picture you see just about every turn you make in the city here. He is idolized. Reyes. OH, AN EARLY CHANCE AND A SUPERB SAVE BY WILLIAMS. May be one of the saves of this World Cup inside the opening five minutes of play. And it all starts with Jimenez. The link play getting the ball out wide. Full back on the overlap. They get a decent cross into the box and Jimenez does the right thing. He gets himself into a goal scoring position. Decent strike. Excellent save. Capacity of around 83,000. Go to Williams. an experienced goalkeeper at the age of 34. Mexico may be with an opening here and that is the ONLY GOAL OF THE WORLD CUP. Scored by Julian Kinz. He might have been born IN COLOMBIA, BUT HE'S A HERO OF MEXICO RIGHT NOW. AND THIS PLACE IS SHAKING. The party has started here in Mexico City. But you see actually where the goal comes from. They're in possession South Africa. They're trying to play their way out from the back. It's a poor ball from Roman Williams. It's picked off by a brilliant press from the Mexicans. You know, Lero stepping in, being aggressive, getting Mexico back on the ball, and Ginz, he does the right thing really. He just puts his laces through the ball. Just goes for pure power, gets a bit of look through the keeper's legs, but a dream start for Mexico. A timely goal for Kinz as well. Hasn't scored in his last 17 caps before today. Both of his international goals came in his first five appearances. Reyes >> Jon the goal scorer he's going to go for goal again and he clips the top of the net that's exactly what I was talking about not staying out wide on that left hand side drifting into a central area giving defenders a problem not surprised he takes the shot on it's a bit of a wild swipe at the ball by Gutierrez chance to turn for Fidalgo Oh, Galliardo across. Brilliance ball to hold on. There's that combination again. Kona's infield using the overlapping fullback as the width towards Foster. That is the first chance for South Africa that comes and goes in a flash. Yeah. And your reaction tells you how good an opportunity it was. He gets in between defenders who are watching the ball, not watching the danger man. hoisting it high. Real gets it only so far. Back in TOWARDS JIMENEZ. OH, the flying save from Williams. AND IT HAD TO BE AS WELL FOR SOUTH AFRICA. WELL, it's such an intelligent ball and it's the movement though of of Jimenez that causes the problems. Question mark about whether he would have been offside, but there's defenders watching the ball. He's on the move. That is a recipe for disaster. Well, he's had an interesting few days. Ral Jimenez rejoined his old club, Wolverampton Wanderers of England, who were relegated from the Premier League at the end of the season just gone. They'll be playing second tier football. Welcome today to find out the coach had been sat in Alvarado sets. Oh, it's off the post and Kin so close to a second. Well, it's like someone just flicked a switch and suddenly Mexico bursts to life and you see the finish here from Kenyon. He tries to pass the ball into the bottom corner. He's so unlucky. Oh, it's a lovely reverse and a real chance for another goal, but strangely poked there by Gutierrez. And that is time for the first half. In 2022, Mexico didn't lead in any of their games at the break, but they do here. A risk taken there and Mexico maybe with a chance still maybe half an opportunity FROM RANGE IS FIRED IN and over the top by Gutierrenez. Well, South Africa just not learning the lessons of the first half. A goal they gave away and it's incredibly poor. It's actually played to a Mexican player with the ball through here. looking for the run of Gutierrez. Oh, a risky challenge. The referee has a look. It's a free kick. AND THE PUNISHMENT HERE IS GOING TO BE SEVERE. IT'S A RED CARD. I think we all knew what was coming. Sent off for the denial of a goal scoring opportunity. There will be no reprieve. Mcua from range. Madiva hits it. Snow by Rananiel. The goalkeeper has been totally comfortable today, but eventually caught. Listen to the roar here for Hilberto Ma. Just 17 years old. He breaks a 96y old record to become Mexico's youngest World Cup player. You can hear the Mexico fans chanting mira. They absolutely love this guy who has just signed a new deal with his club. And now Mexico flood forward with five. THAT'S A GREAT BALL. JIMENEZ. That should be the point in the bag. And already A BIG FIRST STEP TO QUALIFICATION FOR MEXICO. He goes level second with Jared Borgetti in terms of the alltime goalc scoring list for Mexico. Only Javier Hernandez has scored more than him in the history of this great nation. AND THAT IS CLASSIC RAUL JIMENEZ WHO makes it 2-0. >> Yeah, that should be game over. You know when the ball is out wide, a cross is going to come into the box. As an experienced center forward, what do you do? You get away from defenders. You get into attack in space to be picked out. It's exactly what Jimenez does. And then he has a little look at the goalkeeper. Do you go back across? You try and beat him at his near post. He he just picks the right option, you know, but his movement into the box. He doesn't run offside. That's an experienced striker's goal. That's been described as a full house. That is max capacity. Was not quite 83,000 with seats taken out for operational reasons. Mexico with a player down. South Africa don't care. Attempt on goal for them. Not one that does much damage. He looked at me as if actually runs into Alvarado there. Looked like a foul. I think it's not necessarily the first coming together. I think there's a secondary one as well and that's what Var are rightly looking at. >> Hand on the head of Alvarado who backed in but then was almost batted out the way. >> Yeah, I think that is the problem that secondary movement from I think it's Zan who actually catches him. Interesting to see what the uh the referee makes of this. >> Well, South Africa already down to 10. >> Decision direct. >> South Africa are down to nine. This is turning into a miserable day for Bafana. Bafana. And there it is. Confirmation. Lovely red card for Pembers. Referee has been quite stern in some of those situations. A run here for Muria. Oh, who was caught there, was he? It will be a yellow card for Montes. Not running directly towards goal. Mexico pointing to the other end of the field. >> Yeah, they feel it there. Teammate was fouled early. The referee didn't see it that way. The counterattack was sprung and Oh, it's a red card. Red card, Cesar Montes. And this really is turning into a game to remember. Full time. Two-0. It might have finished, but that's only half the story. It is victory for the co-hosts on the opening day of the World Cup. But a game that contained more red cards than goals. Mexico off and running.