A Fiery Start and an Early Goal to Ease the Nerves 🔥
From the historic Azteca Stadium in Mexico City, the 2026 World Cup kicked off with an attendance of 80,824 spectators. Mexico hosted South Africa in a thrilling opening match that ended in a 2-0 victory for Mexico, thanks to a strong performance and goals in both halves.
As the match unfolded, Mexico surprised everyone with an early goal in the 9th minute by forward Julián Quiñones, which found the back of the net and sent the Azteca Stadium into a frenzy. The quick goal changed all the calculations and put the Mexican fans’ nerves at ease. South Africa tried to respond, but the atmosphere was 100% Mexican.
A Red Card Turns the Match ⚽🟥
In the second half, specifically in the 47th minute, Brazilian referee Wilton Sampaio showed a straight red card to South African player Siphiwe Tshabalala following a violent challenge. This sending-off left South Africa playing with 10 men from the start of the second half, and Mexico took advantage of the numerical superiority.
Just a few minutes later, specifically in the 67th minute, veteran star Raúl Jiménez sealed the deal with a second goal following a precise pass, confirming Mexico’s victory and bringing smiles to the faces of the fans.
Key Match Events 📋
- ⚽ Goal: Julián Quiñones (Mexico) — 9th minute
- 🟥 Red Card: Siphiwe Tshabalala (South Africa) — 47th minute
- ⚽ Goal: Raúl Jiménez (Mexico) — 67th minute
- 🏅 Man of the Match: Julián Quiñones
- 🏟️ Azteca Stadium, Mexico City — 80,824 spectators
- ⏰ Saudi Arabia Time: 5:09 AM and 7:07 AM
Question and Answer ❓
Q: At what times were Mexico’s goals scored in the opening match, according to Saudi Arabia time?
A: The first goal was scored by Quiñones in the 9th minute (5:09 AM Saudi Arabia time), and the second goal was scored by Jiménez in the 67th minute (7:07 AM Saudi Arabia time).