The opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup was remembered for a unique statistical result in World Cup history. In the match between the national teams of Mexico and South Africa, the referees sent off three players from the field.
Yesterday, on June 11, at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City, the hosts defeated the South African national team 2-0.
In the 49th minute of the match, Brazilian referee Wilton Sampaio sent off South African midfielder Sphiwe Sithole with a straight red card. Later, his teammate Themba Zwane also received a red card.
In the 90+2 minute of the match, Mexico national team captain César Montes was also forced to leave the field early.
Thus, for the first time in World Cup history, three red cards were recorded in a single match in the opening game.
The previous record was set at the 1990 World Cup hosted by Italy. In the opening match between Argentina and Cameroon, two footballers were sent off. At that time, Cameroonian André Kana-Biyik received a red card, while Benjamin Massing left the game after a second yellow card.
The World Cup record for the number of red cards belongs to the 2006 tournament. In the round of 16 match between Portugal and the Netherlands held in Germany, Russian referee Valentin Ivanov sent off four footballers from the field.
