Here are the official starting lineups for both the Mexico national football team and the South Africa Bafana men’s national soccer team for their World Cup 2026 opening game at Estadio Azteca on June 11, 2026 (official attendance 80.824). Mexico beat SA 2:0 in the first match of the World Cup, with three red cards in the game!
Mexico national team vs South Africa starting lineups and subs 2026 World Cup
Rangel (GK)
Reyes, Montes (captain), Vasquez, Gallardo
Lira (Edson Alvarez 76)
Fidalgo (Gilberto Mora 66), Brian Gutierrez (Luis Chavez 66)
Alvarado, Jimenez (Armando Gonzalez 76), Quinones (Alexis Vega 79)
17 year old Gilberto Mora became Mexico’s youngest ever player at a football World Cup when he replaced Alvaro Fidalgo as a second half substitute.
Bafana playing XI vs Mexico national team El Tri Soccer World Cup 2026
Williams (GK; captain)
Mudau, Okon, Sibisi, Mbokazi, Modiba (Appollis 76)
Adams (Zwane 61), Sithole, Mokoena
Foster (Mbatha 56), Rayners (Makgopa 76)
Mexico vs South Africa national soccer team 2:0 match timeline 2026
1:0 Julian Quinones goal 9
1:0 Sphephelo Sithole red card 49 (South Africa)
2:0 Raul Jimenez goal 67
2:0 Themba Zwane red card 84 (for South Africa)
2:0 Cesar Montes red card 90+2 (for Mexico)
Mexico had 16 total shots against South Africa at WC 2026 (Bafana had only 3 total shots by comparison)
Mexico had 61% possession against Bafana in their World Cup opening game.