- South Africa's World Cup 2026 campaign began with a defeat to co-hosts Mexico, with Bafana Bafana ending the match with nine men after two red cards.
- Sphephelo Sithole was dismissed for denying a goal-scoring opportunity, while Themba Zwane received a controversial red card for violent conduct after a VAR review.
- Mexico also had a player, Cesar Montes, sent off in the dying stages for denying a goal-scoring opportunity, bringing the total red cards in the match to three.
- This match marked the first time a World Cup opener featured three or more red cards, and the first time since 2006 that a team received two red cards in a World Cup game.
- All three dismissed players – Sithole, Zwane, and Montes – will miss their respective nations' upcoming World Cup fixtures.
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