A wild opener in Mexico City and a sharp comeback in Guadalajara gave the expanded tournament an immediate jolt, just as Canada’s turn on home soil drew closer.
The biggest World Cup ever opened with the kind of chaos that makes this tournament so hard to predict. Two Group A matches launched a 39-day, 104-game event across Canada, the United States, and Mexico, and both offered a clear reminder that a 48-team field can create strange, fast-moving drama from the first whistle.
Mexico’s first match at the Estadio Azteca felt like an occasion before the ball was even kicked. More than 80,000 fans filled the stadium, and the buildup included performances from Shakira and Maná, but the football quickly took over. Mexico faced South Africa and turned the opening game into a night of milestones, tension, and a record-setting disciplinary mess.
The first goal of the tournament arrived in the ninth minute. Erik Lira won the ball high up the pitch when a South African defender tried to play out from the back, and Julián Quiñones finished calmly through Ronwen Williams’ legs. Mexico’s second goal carried a different weight. Raúl Jiménez headed in his first World Cup goal and reacted with visible emotion, having recovered years earlier from a serious skull fracture suffered in club play.
The match then slipped into history for another reason. Wilton Sampaio showed three red cards, the most ever in a World Cup opener and the first time a World Cup match had featured three dismissals in two decades. South Africa lost Sphephelo Sithole and Themba Zwane, while Mexico’s César Montes was sent off late for stopping a breakaway. All three players will miss the next group match, leaving both teams with immediate selection problems.
Mexico’s win carried more than three points
For Mexico, the 2-0 result was about more than a clean sheet. Javier Aguirre’s team had never won its opening World Cup match before, having previously posted five losses and two draws, so this one changed a long-running pattern. The performance also put 17-year-old Gilberto Mora on a bigger stage, with the teenager given a central role in midfield and handled as if he already belonged there.
The hosts looked composed after the first goal and controlled the game well enough to leave with a result that should build belief. In a tournament of this size, first impressions matter, and Mexico produced one that was forceful, polished, and unforgettable for reasons both good and bad.
South Korea answered with patience and nerve
The second Group A match in Guadalajara was quieter in the stands but no less important on the field. South Korea met Czechia at the Estadio Akron and recovered from a goal down to win 2-1, showing the sort of resilience that can make a team dangerous later in the competition.
Czechia struck first through captain Ladislav Krejčí, who rose to meet a long throw in the 59th minute. That goal reflected a familiar pattern for the Czechs, who had relied on set pieces throughout qualifying. South Korea’s response came with much more flow. Lee Kang-in found Hwang In-beom with a precise pass, and Hwang used one feint to lose two defenders and the goalkeeper before placing the equalizer into the corner. The move featured 25 passes, one of the longest sequences ever to produce a World Cup goal.
The match still had one more twist. Tomáš Souček appeared to have put Czechia back in front in the 77th minute, only for the goal to be ruled out for offside after review. Three minutes later, substitute Oh Hyeon-gyu finished a low cross from Hwang to give South Korea the lead for good. Oh later said he had a 38-degree fever before kickoff and was not sure he would be fit enough to play. Kim Seung-gyu protected the result with a late diving save, and South Korea walked away with a statement win.
Why the first day matters for Canada
Thursday’s results left Mexico and South Korea level on three points at the top of Group A, with Mexico ahead on goal difference. South Africa and Czechia now face the usual problems that follow an opening loss, including suspension issues and the need to respond quickly before the group table gets away from them.
For Canada, the opening day offered both a preview and a warning. The national team begins its campaign Friday at a sold-out BMO Field in Toronto against Bosnia and Herzegovina, in the first men’s World Cup match ever staged on Canadian soil. Jesse Marsch’s side is grouped with Bosnia, Qatar, and Switzerland, and it will complete its group-stage matches at BC Place in Vancouver.
Canada has spent years waiting for this moment, and the atmosphere around its debut should be intense. After watching other co-hosts and early contenders take center stage, the Canadians now get their own chance to shape the tournament’s mood. If opening day is any guide, this World Cup will move quickly, punish mistakes, and reward teams that can stay composed when the noise rises.
Mexico and Korea Set an Early World Cup Tone
A wild opener in Mexico City and a sharp comeback in Guadalajara gave the expanded tournament an immediate jolt, just as Canada’s turn on home soil drew closer.
The biggest World Cup ever opened with the kind of chaos that makes this tournament so hard to predict. Two Group A matches launched a 39-day, 104-game event across Canada, the United States, and Mexico, and both offered a clear reminder that a 48-team field can create strange, fast-moving drama from the first whistle.
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A host nation start that kept escalating
Mexico’s first match at the Estadio Azteca felt like an occasion before the ball was even kicked. More than 80,000 fans filled the stadium, and the buildup included performances from Shakira and Maná, but the football quickly took over. Mexico faced South Africa and turned the opening game into a night of milestones, tension, and a record-setting disciplinary mess.
The first goal of the tournament arrived in the ninth minute. Erik Lira won the ball high up the pitch when a South African defender tried to play out from the back, and Julián Quiñones finished calmly through Ronwen Williams’ legs. Mexico’s second goal carried a different weight. Raúl Jiménez headed in his first World Cup goal and reacted with visible emotion, having recovered years earlier from a serious skull fracture suffered in club play.
The match then slipped into history for another reason. Wilton Sampaio showed three red cards, the most ever in a World Cup opener and the first time a World Cup match had featured three dismissals in two decades. South Africa lost Sphephelo Sithole and Themba Zwane, while Mexico’s César Montes was sent off late for stopping a breakaway. All three players will miss the next group match, leaving both teams with immediate selection problems.
Mexico’s win carried more than three points
For Mexico, the 2-0 result was about more than a clean sheet. Javier Aguirre’s team had never won its opening World Cup match before, having previously posted five losses and two draws, so this one changed a long-running pattern. The performance also put 17-year-old Gilberto Mora on a bigger stage, with the teenager given a central role in midfield and handled as if he already belonged there.
The hosts looked composed after the first goal and controlled the game well enough to leave with a result that should build belief. In a tournament of this size, first impressions matter, and Mexico produced one that was forceful, polished, and unforgettable for reasons both good and bad.
South Korea answered with patience and nerve
The second Group A match in Guadalajara was quieter in the stands but no less important on the field. South Korea met Czechia at the Estadio Akron and recovered from a goal down to win 2-1, showing the sort of resilience that can make a team dangerous later in the competition.
Czechia struck first through captain Ladislav Krejčí, who rose to meet a long throw in the 59th minute. That goal reflected a familiar pattern for the Czechs, who had relied on set pieces throughout qualifying. South Korea’s response came with much more flow. Lee Kang-in found Hwang In-beom with a precise pass, and Hwang used one feint to lose two defenders and the goalkeeper before placing the equalizer into the corner. The move featured 25 passes, one of the longest sequences ever to produce a World Cup goal.
The match still had one more twist. Tomáš Souček appeared to have put Czechia back in front in the 77th minute, only for the goal to be ruled out for offside after review. Three minutes later, substitute Oh Hyeon-gyu finished a low cross from Hwang to give South Korea the lead for good. Oh later said he had a 38-degree fever before kickoff and was not sure he would be fit enough to play. Kim Seung-gyu protected the result with a late diving save, and South Korea walked away with a statement win.
Why the first day matters for Canada
Thursday’s results left Mexico and South Korea level on three points at the top of Group A, with Mexico ahead on goal difference. South Africa and Czechia now face the usual problems that follow an opening loss, including suspension issues and the need to respond quickly before the group table gets away from them.
For Canada, the opening day offered both a preview and a warning. The national team begins its campaign Friday at a sold-out BMO Field in Toronto against Bosnia and Herzegovina, in the first men’s World Cup match ever staged on Canadian soil. Jesse Marsch’s side is grouped with Bosnia, Qatar, and Switzerland, and it will complete its group-stage matches at BC Place in Vancouver.
Canada has spent years waiting for this moment, and the atmosphere around its debut should be intense. After watching other co-hosts and early contenders take center stage, the Canadians now get their own chance to shape the tournament’s mood. If opening day is any guide, this World Cup will move quickly, punish mistakes, and reward teams that can stay composed when the noise rises.
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