(Screengrab via X)

South Africa’s 2026 World Cup campaign got off to a nightmare start Thursday night, and the stunned reaction from a panel of former national team stars may have summed it up better than any post-match analysis could.

After South Africa fell 2-0 to Mexico in the tournament opener at a packed Mexico City Stadium, coverage by the country’s national broadcaster returned to the studio to find former South Africa internationals Benny McCarthy, Quinton Fortune, and Aaron Mokoena sitting in near-total silence.

With the reality of the defeat still sinking in, the trio appeared momentarily at a loss for words.

Even after the host tried to get the discussion underway with a straightforward question – “What went wrong this game?” – neither McCarthy nor Fortune immediately jumped in.

Instead, viewers were treated to several uncomfortable seconds of television that may have captured the mood more accurately for fans back home. The moment immediately went viral across the internet.

Unfortunately for South Africa, there was plenty to be speechless about.

Mexico took a 1-0 lead within the first 10 minutes, but after halftime, things went from bad to worse for South Africa when midfielder Yaya Sithole was slapped with a red card and sent off

And then, after Mexico scored a second time, Sithole’s teammate Themba Zwane was also ejected.

The defeat leaves South Africa facing some early pressure in Group A and without key players for crucial upcoming fixtures. Judging by the reaction in the studio, however, those concerns can wait for a moment.

Watch above via X.

The post WATCH: Soccer Panel’s Awkward Silence Goes Viral After Nightmare World Cup Opener Leaves Pundits Speechless first appeared on Mediaite.

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.