FIFA World Cup 2026 opening match marred by historic three red cards

The 2026 FIFA World Cup got off to a dramatic and controversial start at the historic Estadio Azteca, where Brazilian referee Wilton Sampaio issued three red cards in the opening match between Mexico and South Africa, creating an unwanted piece of World Cup history.

Mexico secured a 2-0 victory in the tournament opener, but the result was overshadowed by Sampaio's disciplinary decisions that saw both teams finish with reduced numbers.

The match began promisingly for hosts Mexico when Julian Quinones scored in the 9th minute, with the goal confirmed after a brief VAR review. However, the game's narrative shifted dramatically in the second half when Sampaio's strict officiating took center stage.

South Africa's Sphelele Sithole became the first casualty in the 49th minute, receiving a straight red card for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity. The situation worsened for the African side when Themba Zwane was shown a second red card in the 83rd minute following a VAR-reviewed incident for striking an opponent.

The drama reached its peak during stoppage time when Mexico captain Cesar Montes received the third red card for a professional foul, denying South Africa a clear scoring chance.

This marks only the second time in World Cup history that three red cards have been shown in a single match. Remarkably, South Africa was involved in the previous incident during the 1998 World Cup against Denmark, where they received one red card while Denmark received two.

Sampaio's appointment to officiate the opening match raised eyebrows given his controversial track record. The Brazilian referee faced heavy criticism during the 2022 Qatar World Cup for his handling of the England vs France quarter-final, particularly for ignoring penalty appeals and failing to issue cards for several fouls. He also drew criticism for his VAR decisions during the Poland vs Saudi Arabia match.