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2026 World Cup Opening Day recap, winners and key moments
Although there were just two games on Opening Day to kick off the 2026 World Cup, that does not mean there still wasn’t plenty of action to give viewers an appetizer of what is to come for the remainder of the summer’s hottest tournament.
As every team begins the World Cup undefeated, only one can be a winner at the end of the Group stages.
Look at the winners and losers from Day 1 to see who is in control of their respective group.
More: 7 defining moments in USA Men’s World Cup history
Mexico vs. South Africa
Winner: Mexico, 2-0
In an opening game that saw more red cards than goals, Mexico and South Africa kicked off the 2026 World Cup at the Mexico City Stadium, as El Tri looked to open their first host game since 1986 in style.
Out of the gate, Mexico made it clear they were going to be in control, with Julian Quiñones delivering a fast ball to the bottom right of the net in the ninth minute to open up the game.
The first half would remain a defensive contest, as Mexico would not find the back of the net again until the 67th minute of the second half, as Raul Jimenez would knock in his first FIFA World Cup goal on a header to put El Tri up by two.
South Africa would not put up much of a fight, registering only three shots all game. If the Bafana Banana wants to make it out of the Group stages, they’ll need to turn it around next week against the Czech Republic.
South Korea vs. Czech Republic
Winner: South Korea, 2-1
In what some may call a slow burner, South Korea and the Czech Republic put together a rather entertaining game if you cancel out the first half.
It would not be until the second half that one of these teams would finally put the ball in the back of the net, as Czech Republic captain Ladislav Krejčí finished a set-piece pass with a header, giving his team some much-needed momentum.
However, South Korea’s In-Beom Hwang would eventually tie the game up in the 67th minute with a smoothly composed shot that left social media enamored.
Time would tick as both teams looked to score the go-ahead goal until South Korea’s Oh Hyeon-gyu would finish off a quick assist from In-Beom Hwang to put their team up by one.
Hyeon-gyu’s goal would be the final one of the game as South Korea ended the Opening Day for the 2026 World Cup with a 2-1 victory.
