Sports News Report
Sport: SoccerCountry: MexicoCategory: Playoffs

Three red cards issued in World Cup opening match in Mexico City

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jun 11, 2026, 9:30 PM

Last updated Jun 11, 2026

Three red cards issued in World Cup opening match in Mexico City
Summary

In the opening match of the 2026 World Cup at the Mexico City Stadium, referee Wilton Pereira Sampaio showed red cards to South Africa's Yaya Sithole and Themba Zwane, along with Mexico's Cesar Montes. The match is still in progress, with the repercussions of these red cards impacting team dynamics significantly. This incident showcases the intensity of competition as teams vie for a strong start in the tournament. Further developments are expected as the match continues.

Source Links
Yahoo SportsBBC Sport
Key Details
  • •Referee Wilton Pereira Sampaio issued three red cards in the match.
  • •South Africa's Yaya Sithole and Themba Zwane were sent off.
  • •Mexico's Cesar Montes also received a red card.
  • •The match is still ongoing at the Mexico City Stadium.
  • •This game marks the opening of the 2026 World Cup.
Latest Updates
  • 10:51 AMYahoo Sports — Who is Wilton Sampaio? World Cup referee who showed three red cards in Mexico vs South Africa
  • 9:30 PMBBC Sport — Three red cards shown in opening game of World Cup
What they're saying
"

Wilton Sampaio quickly became a headline name at the 2026 World Cup, turning the Mexico vs South Africa opener into a red-card talking point. The Brazilian referee handed out three red cards as Mexico beat South Africa 2-0 at the Azteca Stadium, the most ever shown in a World Cup opening match.

"

Referee Wilton Pereira Sampaio shows red cards to South Africa's Yaya Sithole and Themba Zwane as well as Mexico's Cesar Montes during the opening match of the 2026 World Cup at the Mexico City Stadium.

Related Teams & Leagues
Soccer

Sources

External links

Original reporting and copyright belong to the linked sources. SportsNewsReport.com aggregates and links — it does not republish full articles.

Related Stories

Last 14 days