Opta Analyst

Data-driven storytelling for sport. 📈
🏈 🏀 ⚾️ 🏒 ⛳️ are on @OptaAnalystUS
Sign up for our Stat, Viz, Quiz football newsletter:

[Opta Analyst @OptaAnalyst]

We have made five observations from that match that suggest we could be in for a wild tournament...

https://t.co/2r1ah1h9K6

[Opta Analyst @OptaAnalyst]

🟥 The World Cup red card record is under threat
👶 One of the youngest players ever
😲 Too big a gulf in quality?

Has Mexico vs South Africa set the tone for the 2026 World Cup?

[Opta Analyst @OptaAnalyst]

Nine of Mexico's 10 outfield players were involved in the 34-second passing move that led to Raúl Jiménez's goal versus South Africa.

[Opta Analyst @OptaAnalyst]

Look ahead to South Korea vs Czechia in Group A at the 2026 FIFA World Cup with our match prediction and preview.

https://t.co/hm9A5zwDBD

[Opta Analyst @OptaAnalyst]

South Korea are being given the slight edge over Czechia by the Opta supercomputer ahead of the second Group A game at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

[Opta Analyst @OptaAnalyst]

Three players were sent off as Mexico opened the 2026 World Cup with a 2-0 victory over nine-man South Africa.

Yaya Sithole and substitute Themba Zwane both saw red for South Africa, with Julián Quiñones and Raúl Jiménez on target for the co-hosts in Thursday's Group A clash at Mexico City Stadium.

There was drama in stoppage time as captain César Montes harshly saw red for felling Khuliso Mudau, but it was too late for South Africa to mount a comeback.

https://t.co/bInPdBfOrC

[Opta Analyst @OptaAnalyst]

Mexico 2-0 South Africa

Co-hosts Mexico kick off with a win over South Africa, but there were more red cards (3) than goals in the match.

[OptaJoe @OptaJoe]

3 - In the first game at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, there were three red cards awarded.

At the 2022 World Cup, only four red cards were shown in 64 games overall.

Brandished.

[Opta Analyst @OptaAnalyst]

More on the youngest players in World Cup history.

https://t.co/vGkJbN7BEF

[Opta Analyst @OptaAnalyst]

Mexico's Gilberto Mora becomes the sixth youngest player to play in the men's FIFA World Cup (17 years, 240 days old).

[Opta Analyst @OptaAnalyst]

Mexico lead 1-0 at half-time, but it could arguably have been more. South Africa have offered very little going forward so far...

[Opta Analyst @OptaAnalyst]

Read our data-powered pre-match preview ahead of kick-off in Mexico City.

https://t.co/v8a8SHwxPH

[Opta Analyst @OptaAnalyst]

Mbekezeli Mbokazi (20y 265d) is the second-youngest South African to start a World Cup match, after Benni McCarthy in all three games in 1998.

[Opta Analyst @OptaAnalyst]

This edition will be Mexico’s 18th appearance at the men’s World Cup, a record for any CONCACAF nation, but they have also played the most matches without ever lifting the trophy (60).

[Opta Analyst @OptaAnalyst]

Read our data-powered pre-match preview ahead of kick-off in Mexico City.

https://t.co/v8a8SHwxPH

[Opta Analyst @OptaAnalyst]

🇲🇽 𝐌𝐞𝐱𝐢𝐜𝐨 𝐯𝐬 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐀𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚 🇿🇦

Here's how Mexico and South Africa will line up in the opening game of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

[Opta Analyst @OptaAnalyst]

Our newsletter discusses that, analyses why a Pele record could be under threat, and looks at how many games the Azteca's hosted in World Cup history here:

https://t.co/PF0dxeXvWj

[Opta Analyst @OptaAnalyst]

Manchester City are sending 19 players to the World Cup.

Bayern Munich have 18.

Arsenal have 16.

But which club outside Europe's top five leagues is highest on the list?

[Opta Analyst @OptaAnalyst]

@KoreanClaret https://t.co/hm9A5zwDBD

[Opta Analyst @OptaAnalyst]

The 2026 World Cup is finally here.

The opening game is between co-hosts Mexico and South Africa - a repeat of the opening game in 2010 that finished 1-1.

The Opta supercomputer saw Mexico beat the South Africans in two-thirds of the pre-match simulations.