First Two World Cup Games: Mexico And Korea Victories

Those games were just the first of the Group Stage and just two of the 104 total match-ups in the historic 48-team tournament.

The first matches of the 2026 World Cup went down Thursday.

The first game was played between Mexico and South Africa. Mexico scored the first goal and secured the first victory of the tournament. The team defeated South Africa 2-0 in front of a packed stadium in Mexico City.

The match featured three red-card dismissals, the most in a match in World Cup history, which left South Africa down to just nine players.

Later in Guadalajara, South Korea faced off against Czechia, with Korea’s Red Devils winning 2-1.

Those games were just the first of the Group Stage and just two of the 104 total match-ups in the historic 48-team tournament.

Friday will see Canada vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina. USA will also play its first match against Paraguay at 9pm, which you can catch on WFXB Fox TV.