Mexico vs South Africa World Cup 2026: Records Galore with 3 Red Cards as Opener Goes Down History Books

The Mexico and South Africa match has turned into a nightmare for the Bafana Bafana as they finished the match with 9 men, while Mexico were also down to ten.

The Mexicans dominated the match at the Estadio Azteca but along with their victory, the South Africans’ misery was piled as they saw two of their players sent off in the match. El Tri, on home turf, won the match 2-0 but saw their captain sent off as well.

Mexico took the early lead from Julian Quinones, and then Raul Jimenez doubled the lead for El Tri. But the match will be remembered also for its three red cards, which happened for the first time since 2006.

The first one was for Sphephelo Sithole, who made a blatant foul on Brian Gutierrez as the last man and was shown a straight Red. And in the 84th minute of the match, it was Themba Zwane, who was given the marching orders as well.

Why was Themba Zwane shown Red Card?

Themba Zwane had a coming together with Mexico’s Roberto Alvarado, and the collision made the Mexican on the floor. The VAR checked, and they suggested that the referee have a look.

Brazilian referee Wilton Sampaio went to the video screen to take a look and he found that Zwane had swung his hand after the coming together. It was clear in the replay that the South African forcefully hit Alvarado, which is considered a dangerous play and that led to his Red Card.

Later in the match, Mexico captain Cesar Montes was also shown a straight red card in the stoppage time.

Red Cards Galore: FIFA World Cup Record

The Mexico vs South Africa match in this World Cup is the first one in World Cup’s history to have multiple red cards since a World Cup 2006 match between Portugal and Netherlands.

In one of the most chaotic matches in World Cup history, Portugal defeated the Netherlands 1-0 in the 2006 Round of 16. Referee Valentin Ivanov issued a record 4 red cards and 16 yellows in a game dubbed the “Battle of Nuremberg.” Constant fouls, confrontations, and ill-discipline turned the match into a physical warzone. Portugal advanced, but the game is remembered more for its cards than for football.

Interestingly, the 2022 World Cup saw a total of 4 Red Cards in the entire competition. And we are already at three in this World Cup after the first match.

First Straight Red Cards since 1998

Also, all of the players saw straight Red Cards, which has happened for the first time since 1998 World Cup. Interestingly, South Africa were also involved in that match as one of their players saw a Red while Denmark saw two.

First Red Card in an Opening Match

This is also the first Red Card in the opening match of a World Cup in its 96 years’ history.