Sports

IIE DIGITAL DESK ; Mexico City, June 12: Hosts Mexico launched their FIFA World Cup campaign in emphatic fashion with a convincing victory in the tournament’s opening match. South Africa, reduced to 10 men at the beginning of the second half, failed to put up any significant fight as Mexico controlled the contest and secured a comfortable win.

Playing at the iconic Azteca Stadium in Mexico City on Thursday night, the hosts defeated South Africa 2-0 to make a perfect start to their World Cup journey. Julian Quinones gave Mexico the lead early in the match, scoring his first goal for the national team since June 2024 and setting the tone for a dominant performance by the home side.

His strike also entered the record books as the fastest opening goal in a FIFA World Cup match since Philipp Lahm scored in the sixth minute for Germany against Costa Rica during the opening match of the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

Mexico continued to press for more goals and eventually doubled their advantage in the second half through experienced striker Raul Jimenez. The goal marked his first-ever FIFA World Cup goal and took his international tally to 46 goals from 127 appearances for the Mexican national team.

South Africa had previously hosted the FIFA World Cup in 2010, where the tournament had also begun with a match against Mexico. That encounter ended in a 1-1 draw, but this time South Africa were unable to produce a similar performance and failed to pose any serious challenge to the Mexican side as the hosts celebrated a memorable opening-night victory.