The opening match of the 2026 World Cup has been marked by unexpected twists. After two South African players received red cards, the match took another turn when Mexico’s key defender, César Montes, was shown a straight red card, leading to both teams finishing the encounter with 10 players on the field for Mexico and 9 for South Africa.
This incident has etched itself into World Cup history, as it marks the first occasion that three red cards have been issued during an opening match. According to Stats Foot, this unprecedented disciplinary action highlights the intensity of the encounter between the tournament hosts and Mexico.
Despite Mexico leading in the match, the suspension of Montes could have significant repercussions for the team as they advance to the group stage of the tournament.