The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicked off on Thursday (June 11) with Mexico and South Korea securing victories in their opening matches. Mexico defeated South Africa 2-0 in Mexico City, marking the start of the tournament. The game was notable for its three red cards—two for South Africa’s Sphephelo Sithole and Themba Zwane, and one for Mexico’s César Montes—setting a World Cup record for dismissals in an opening match. NBC News reported that Mexico’s Erik Lira expressed the team’s pride, stating, “We did the best we could.”
In the second match, South Korea triumphed over Czechia with a 2-1 victory in Guadalajara. Hwang In-beom played a pivotal role, scoring a goal and providing an assist to Oh Hyeon-gyu for the winning goal. Czechia initially took the lead with a header from Ladislav Krejčí, but South Korea’s comeback secured them three points in Group A. The Sydney Morning Herald highlighted South Korea’s dominance in possession and shot attempts.
The tournament, featuring 48 teams, is being hosted across North America, with matches in 16 cities. This marks the first World Cup in North America since 1994. The U.S. team will begin their campaign against Paraguay on Friday (June 12) in Los Angeles. Yahoo Sports detailed the U.S.’s favorable group draw, which includes Australia and Türkiye. The final will take place at MetLife Stadium in New York on July 19.
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