🟥 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?
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.
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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.
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).
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
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?
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.