South Africa’s 2026 FIFA World Cup opener went from bad to worse early in the second half as Yaya Sithole was shown the first red card of the tournament against Mexico at the Estadio Azteca on Thursday.
With Mexico leading 1-0, Sithole brought down Brian Gutierrez four minutes after the restart when the midfielder looked to break through on goal. The referee judged the challenge as denying a clear scoring opportunity and sent Sithole off with a straight red card in the 49th minute.
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The decision left South Africa with 10 men in the tournament’s opening match, compounding the problems after Julian Quinones put Mexico ahead in the ninth minute. Sithole had also been involved in the error that led to the first goal, making it a difficult evening for the South African midfielder.
Published on June 12, 2026
