FIFA World Cup 2026: Mexico defeated South Africa 2-0.

This time 48 teams are participating in the World Cup.

Mexico City. Co-hosts Mexico got their campaign off to a flying start by beating South Africa 2-0 in the biggest football World Cup opening match ever. This time 48 teams are participating in the World Cup and it was natural for the Mexican team to be under pressure of expectations in the packed Azteca Stadium.

But its players played their role well and gave their fans a chance to celebrate by defeating South Africa easily. Three players were also shown red cards in this match.

Julian Quinones (9th minute) and Raul Jimenez (66th) scored for Mexico, which is co-hosting the tournament with Canada and the United States. Mexico coach Javier Aguirre said after the match, “I tried to explain to them what it means to play the World Cup and the first match at home.

They are young and they had to experience it themselves.”

Mexico was eliminated in the group stage at the World Cup played in Qatar four years ago. Earlier, his team was successful in reaching the last 16 seven times in a row but could not reach the quarter-finals. But this year there is a ray of hope. Mexico has only reached the World Cup quarter-finals twice, in 1970 and 1986. It was the host nation on both these occasions. Aguirre was part of the 1986 team.

Mexico displayed attacking play in front of 80,824 spectators and took the lead through Quinones’ goal in the ninth minute.

Jimenez scored the second goal with a header in the 66th minute. It was his 46th goal for Mexico but his first in three World Cups.

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