Mexico beat South Africa 2-0. Clinical in front of goal: 2 scored from chances worth just 1.5. The winner had to work for it: 2 from 16 shots. South Africa played with ten from minute 49. Best on the pitch was A. Garnacho, rated 9.0.

1. 0'
   ⚽Kick-off
   World Cup 2026
   MEX 4-1-4-1·5-3-2 RSA
   Coach: Javier Aguirre · Hugo BroosReferee: Wilton Pereira Sampaio, Brazil📍 Estadio Banorte
2. 1. First half
   2. 9'
      

      MEX
      GOOOAL!J. QuinonesAssist: E. Lira
   3. 17'
      

      RSA
      Yellow card
      Teboho Mokoena
   4. 23'
      

      MEX
      Yellow card
      B. Gutierrez
3. 1. Second half
   2. 49'
      

      RSA
      Red card
      S. Sithole
   3. 56'
      

      RSA
      Substitution
      ▲T. Mbatha▼Lyle Foster
   4. 61'
      

      RSA
      Substitution
      ▲Themba Zwane▼J. Adams
   5. 66'
      

      MEX
      Substitution
      ▲L. Chavez▼B. Gutierrez
   6. 66'
      

      MEX
      Substitution
      ▲G. Mora▼A. Fidalgo
   7. 67'
      

      MEX
      GOOOAL!Raúl JiménezAssist: R. Alvarado
   8. 74'
      

      RSA
      Yellow card
      N. Sibisi
   9. 76'
      

      MEX
      Substitution
      ▲Edson Álvarez▼E. Lira
   10. 76'
       

       MEX
       Substitution
       ▲A. Gonzalez▼Raúl Jiménez
   11. 76'
       

       RSA
       Substitution
       ▲Evidence Makgopa▼I. Rayners
   12. 77'
       

       RSA
       Substitution
       ▲Oswin Appollis▼A. Modiba
   13. 79'
       

       MEX
       Substitution
       ▲Alexis Vega▼J. Quinones
   14. 82'
       

       RSA
       VAR review
       Themba Zwane
   15. 84'
       

       RSA
       Red card
       Themba Zwane
   16. 90+2'
       

       MEX
       Red card
       César Montes