Three Red Cards Mark Eventful World Cup Opener

In Mexico City, the World Cup’s opening match offered an unusual spectacle with three players receiving red cards. This event marks the first time such a high number of ejections occurred in an opening match of the tournament. The previous record dates back to a 2006 match between Portugal and the Netherlands, where four players were sent off—a record for the World Cup.

The 2022 World Cup in Qatar saw only four red cards issued throughout the entire tournament, highlighting the rarity of the recent event. On that Thursday in Azteca Stadium, South Africa’s Sphephelo Sithole and Themba Zwane were dismissed, along with César Montes from Mexico.

All three players received straight red cards, indicating no prior accumulation of yellow cards. Mexico triumphed over South Africa with a 2-0 victory. The game saw Sithole red-carded after he tackled Brian Gutierrez of Mexico near the box early in the second half. South Africa faced a further setback when Zwane was penalized after a video review showed him striking Roberto Alvarado in the face in the 84th minute. In stoppage time, Montes added to the list of dismissals by bringing down Khuliso Mudau.

The ejections mean the players will miss at least one subsequent match. South Africa is set to face the Czech Republic next, while Mexico will compete against South Korea in Guadalajara.

Reflecting on previous records, the 2006 World Cup match between Portugal and the Netherlands in Germany was notorious for issuing four red cards—two for each team. Held in Nuremberg, that fierce encounter also led to 16 yellow cards, setting a high benchmark for disciplinary action.