Mexico begin – Mexico and South Korea set the tone for the 2026 World Cup on Matchday 1 with dramatic wins on Thursday. Mexico powered past South Africa 4-0 in Mexico City, marked by goals from Julián Quiñones and Raúl Jiménez, while South Korea stunned Czechia 2-1 in Guadal
The 2026 World Cup didn’t just start — it arrived like a statement. In Mexico City. Mexico turned the lights on early and never let up. thundering past South Africa 4-0 in Thursday’s opening match. Five goals across the day, two wins with momentum swinging violently both ways, and suddenly the tournament already feels alive.
Mexico took control in a hurry. Julián Quiñones struck in the ninth minute after a South African defensive miscue. giving the hosts a lead that immediately tilted the atmosphere inside Estadio Azteca. The crowd of 80. 824 roared as Mexico kept pressing. and Mexico City’s iconic ground added another layer to its World Cup history — it became the first venue to host three World Cup openers in the tournament’s history. previously staging the 1970 and 1986 tournaments.
Raúl Jiménez made sure the night didn’t drift into second-guessing. scoring in the 67th minute with a header to put the game away after South Africa were reduced to 10 men earlier in the second half. The scoreline kept climbing, but the contest didn’t finish cleanly. Two more players were shown red late in the match, including Mexico’s César Montes in the dying minutes.
Yet for all the dominance on the scoreboard, coach Javier Aguirre didn’t sound satisfied. When asked about the performance, he told reporters, “This was a 4-0 match, we didn’t play good enough, but people are happy.”
It was a line that carried the weight of a coach looking past the result. Mexico were on top whenever they had the ball. suffocating South Africa’s chances and attacking in waves. lightning-quick on the counter. Still. Aguirre’s reaction left a clear message: the hosts delivered plenty. but he wanted more from the way they played.
For Mexico’s fans, the history mattered too. The team’s best World Cup showings in tournaments it hosted were quarterfinal runs in 1970 and 1986. and Thursday’s win over South Africa gave supporters a real reason to dream about reaching the final eight for a third time. It’s too early to make predictions about anything like that — but after such a sharp start, hope came easily.
Substitute Érik Lira captured the tone of the night when he said, “We know it’s a huge responsibility, because 11 Mexicans are representing a country of 180 million people, so we did the best we could, and from the moment the referee started the match, we went out there to win.”
Across the day, South Korea provided the kind of storyline that makes tournament football special—one that turns a wobble into momentum so quickly it feels unfair to the team that drops behind.
In Guadalajara, South Korea looked dangerous against Czechia, especially in the first half, but it was the Europeans who broke first. Ladislav Krejci, the captain, scored in the 59th minute to open the scoring and briefly knock the wind out of the Taegeuk Warriors.
That goal lasted just long enough to prove how quickly a World Cup match can flip. South Korea responded with a 13-minute spell that produced the kind of turnaround teams dream about. In the 67th minute. Hwang In-beom drew the game level when he corralled a pass into the box from Lee Kang-in. then beat goalkeeper Matěj Kovář with a chipped shot inside the far post.
Hwang didn’t stop at equalizing. He became the spark again in the move that swung the match for good. After a sweeping attacking sequence. Paik Seung-ho played a fabulous ball over the top of the defence into the path of Hwang In-beom. Hwang continued his run down the right flank and kept his composure. centering for Oh Hyeon-Gyu to finish in the 80th minute.
The turnaround was built around timing — and Czechia’s early lead came against the run of the later surge. With the game tied at 0-0. it was Czechia who struck in the 59th minute after winning a throw-in deep inside Koreans’ half. Vladimir Coufal’s delivery into the penalty area was near perfect. and Krejci made a late run to the edge of the six-yard box. thumping home a header surrounded by three Korean players.
By the end, the opening day felt like a preview of exactly how unforgiving this tournament can be. One team can dominate, but still leave its coach restless. Another can absorb a blow, then wrestle control back before anyone has time to settle.
The standout performers made the argument in different ways. Julián Quiñones opened the scoring for Mexico and nearly added a second when he hit the post later in the first half. He finished with a game-high five shots. Hwang In-beom was central to South Korea’s comeback. scoring the equalizer with his chip and also providing an assist on the winner for Oh Hyeon-Gyu. And Raúl Jiménez drove Mexico forward again and again. scoring his first World Cup goal at age 35 with the header that made it 2-0. a strike that also underlined how close he was to more — he could have had a hat trick.
Thursday’s results didn’t just entertain. They set the emotional tempo for the tournament: fast starts, sudden swings, and teams already showing what they can do when the moment lands.
2026 FIFA World Cup Mexico vs South Africa South Korea vs Czechia Julián Quiñones Raúl Jiménez Hwang In-beom Ladislav Krejci Estadio Azteca Matchday 1