South African midfielder Zwane was handed a three-match ban at the 2026 FIFA World Cup

South African midfielder Themba Zwane has had his ban extended to three matches after being sent off in the 2026 FIFA World Cup opener against Mexico last Thursday, FIFA said on Wednesday.

Zwane was sent off for hitting the face of defender Roberto Alvarado late in the match, which Mexico won 2-0 at the Azteca Stadium. South Africa ended the match with just nine men after midfielder Sphephelo Sithole was dismissed earlier.

The 36-year-old Zwane, who had come on as a substitute just over 20 minutes earlier, looked stunned after being shown a red card by Brazilian referee Wilton Sampaio after trying to get past Alvarado on the edge of Mexico’s penalty area. The two made contact before Zwane’s hand struck Alvarado in the face.

After the match, South African coach Hugo Broos said he could accept the sending off of Sithole, who denied Mexico a goal-scoring opportunity on the edge of the area, but felt Zwane’s dismissal was controversial.

“The second red card we can discuss,” Broos said at the post-match press conference. «It was the Mexican player who blocked my player. But it is the referee’s position and we have to accept it, but I think it was too soft to give that as a red card.»

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«You have to accept the first red card. Their player went to the goal alone and Yaya (Sithole) fouled him so I can understand it.»

Dismissal from the World Cup automatically earns the offender a one-match suspension, but in the event of foul play this suspension may be extended by FIFA’s disciplinary committee.

South Africa, who play the Czech Republic in their second Group A match in Atlanta on Thursday, can appeal, FIFA said.

Published on June 17, 2026