World Cup 2026 Erupts: Red-Card Chaos on Opening Day
Updated 17 June 2026.
World Cup 2026 results on June 11 went the way of the two seeds: Mexico beat South Africa 2-0 in a bad-tempered opener at the Estadio Azteca, and South Korea edged Czechia 2-1 in Guadalajara. Day one of the first 48-team finals delivered two wins, three red cards and a packed Azteca, and it set the early pace in Group A. Here is everything that happened on the opening day.
| Match | Result | Group | Scorers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mexico v South Africa | 2-0 | A | Quiñones 9′, Jiménez 67′ |
| South Korea v Czechia | 2-1 | A | Hwang 67′, Oh 80′; Krejci 59′ |
Mexico make a feisty start at the Azteca
Mexico got the host nation off to a winning start, beating South Africa 2-0 in front of a full Estadio Azteca. Julián Quiñones struck early in the ninth minute and Raúl Jiménez doubled the lead after the break on 67 minutes, settling a game that turned scrappy and physical in the closing stages.
It was a chaotic watch. South Africa had Sphephelo Sithole sent off on 49 minutes and Themba Zwane dismissed on 84, finishing with nine men, while Mexico’s César Montes saw red deep into stoppage time. Three reds on opening night told the story of a contest that boiled over once the result was beyond doubt. For the full match story, read our Mexico 2-0 South Africa report.
South Korea hold on against Czechia
South Korea came from behind to beat Czechia 2-1 at the Estadio Akron. Ladislav Krejci put the Czechs ahead on 59 minutes, but Hwang In-beom levelled within eight minutes and Oh Hyeon-gyu turned it around on 80 to claim three points in a tight Group A opener.
The win means Group A’s two seeded sides, Mexico and South Korea, both started with maximum points, leaving Czechia and South Africa needing a response in their second fixtures.
Group A standings after day one
Mexico lead Group A on goal difference after the opening round, with South Korea level on three points. Czechia and South Africa are both still without a point. With the top two and the eight best third-placed sides advancing in the new 48-team format, even one win can matter, but both winners are well placed.
| Pos | Team | Pld | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mexico | 1 | +2 | 3 |
| 2 | South Korea | 1 | +1 | 3 |
| 3 | Czechia | 1 | -1 | 0 |
| 4 | South Africa | 1 | -2 | 0 |
Track all 12 group tables on our standings page, follow goals as they go in on live scores, and see what is next on the fixtures page. For the format, venues and full schedule, see our complete World Cup 2026 guide.
The day one talking point
Opening day belonged to the hosts and to the referees. Mexico got the result the Azteca demanded, but the three red cards underlined how much edge there is in a tournament where a fast start can decide who survives the group. The seeds did their job; the chasing pack now has work to do.
Frequently asked questions
What were the World Cup 2026 results on June 11?
On 11 June 2026, Mexico beat South Africa 2-0 and South Korea beat Czechia 2-1. Both matches were in Group A, the opening day of the first 48-team World Cup, staged at the Estadio Azteca and the Estadio Akron in Mexico.
Who scored in the World Cup 2026 opening match?
Julián Quiñones (9′) and Raúl Jiménez (67′) scored as Mexico beat South Africa 2-0 in the opening match at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.
How many red cards were there on the opening day?
There were three red cards in Mexico’s 2-0 win over South Africa: South Africa’s Sphephelo Sithole (49′) and Themba Zwane (84′), and Mexico’s César Montes (90+2′). South Africa finished with nine men.
Source: 2026 FIFA World Cup Group A.
