The 2026 World Cup has officially commenced, with co-hosts Mexico claiming an early lead just nine minutes into the match against South Africa. They went on to secure a 2-0 victory in front of a sold-out crowd at the iconic Estadio Azteca.
Raul Jimenez, starting his first World Cup match in four tournaments, scored the second goal with a header, shedding tears during his celebration in tribute to his father. The match, however, was marred by three red cards—one for Mexico and two for South Africa—yet it marked a promising start for Javier Aguirre’s team.
Advertisement
In another Group A clash, South Korea triumphed 2-1 over the Czech Republic, staging a comeback with second-half goals from Hwang In Beom and Oh Hyeon Gyu.
Here’s a recap of everything from the opening day of this grand tournament
Empty seats in Guadalajara during South Korea vs. Czech Republic
Following FIFA’s ticket pricing controversy, many matches are seeing a significant number of empty seats.
Despite an engaging Group A matchup between South Korea and the Czech Republic, vacant seats at Estadio Akron highlighted concerns over rising costs due to dynamic pricing, with around 180,000 tickets available across FIFA’s official resale platforms prior to the tournament.
Empty seats observed at the match (Reuters)
Red cards overshadow the opening match
Although the game wasn’t particularly violent, Brazilian referee Wilton Sampaio had no choice but to issue three red cards. The first was given to Yaya Sithole after he fouled Brian Gutierrez, preventing a clear goal-scoring opportunity early in the second half.
Advertisement
Confusion surrounded a VAR review that led to the dismissal of substitute Themba Zwane for an off-the-ball incident with Roberto Alvarado. When replays were shown, the decision seemed straightforward. Finally, Mexico’s Cesar Montes received a red card for stopping a counterattack with a foul on Khuliso Mudau during the final moments.
Remarkably, only four red cards were issued throughout the entire 2022 World Cup. How many will we see by the tournament’s conclusion on July 19?
Montes reacts after being shown a red card by referee Wilton Sampaio (Reuters)
Raul Jimenez’s emotional celebration
After being a substitute in the previous three World Cups, Raul Jimenez has battled back to fitness following a serious skull injury in 2020. He may have feared he would miss the chance to score in a World Cup.
Advertisement
However, playing on home soil, Jimenez, now Mexico’s standout player, scored a goal in classic fashion, doubling his team’s lead. The sheer joy and relief on his face were palpable as he rushed towards a corner flag, tears in his eyes,remembering his father, who passed away in March.
In a World Cup often marked by cynicism, this moment stood as a heartfelt exception.
Jimenez celebrates after scoring for his team (AP)
Host broadcaster’s basic hiccups
Immediately following Jimenez’s goal, teams were sent for a hydration break despite the temperature at Azteca being a mild 23C. These breaks may be necessary in hotter conditions, but they also present an opportunity for the host broadcaster Fox to include extra ad slots.
Advertisement
In the UK, ITV has rightly opted out of this approach, which can be seen as disrespectful to viewers and the sport. Nevertheless, Fox missed the kick-off after one break.
Additionally, Fox’s graphics team deemed it necessary to keep a constant onscreen reminder after a red card, explaining that teams would have one less player on the field.
Shakira and Bocelli shine at the opening ceremony
The opening ceremony at the highly celebrated World Cup stadium lived up to expectations. Shakira and Andrea Bocelli, performed alongside EJAE, delivering standout performances during a vibrant display that included a flag parade before the teams emerged from the tunnel, with music from Eminem and the Alan Parsons Project.
Andrea Bocelli and EJAE during one of the tournament’s official anthem performances (Getty)
The match started slightly late, but the ceremony struck a good balance between celebrating local talent, such as Mana, who received a warm reception, while also highlighting its global significance. Although the atmosphere was likely clearer in the stadium than on TV, the USA flag experienced a mixed reaction from the crowd.