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South Africa denied corner as Mexico claims 2-0 victory at World Cup

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jun 11, 2026, 10:35 PM

Last updated Jun 11, 2026

South Africa denied corner as Mexico claims 2-0 victory at World Cup

Summary

Mexico secured a 2-0 victory over South Africa in the World Cup opener held at Estadio Azteca on June 11. The match was filled with drama, including three red cards issued by referee Wilton Pereira Sampaio. Tensions rose when, just before halftime, South Africa's bench protested a decision that awarded Mexico a goal-kick instead of a corner. VAR protocols prevented a review of this specific situation, highlighting limitations in corner decision oversight. South Africa expressed frustration over the ruling, which detracted from a potential scoring opportunity.

Source Links

Yahoo Sports

By the Numbers

•Mexico leads 2-0 against South Africa at halftime.
•Referee Sampaio issued three red cards during the match.
•South Africa protested a denied corner just before halftime.
•VAR cannot review decisions that deny corners.
•The match took place at Estadio Azteca.

Latest Updates

10:35 PMYahoo Sports — World Cup VAR corner rule explained as South Africa denied corner vs Mexico

What they're saying

"
Mexico’s 2-0 victory over South Africa delivered plenty of drama for an opening match at the World Cup. There were three red cards, an electric Estadio Azteca crowd and a refereeing display from Wilton Pereira Sampaio that made it clear he was not afraid to make bold decisions.
— Yahoo Sports

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