A fair decision? The referee sends off South Africa player for last-man foul

The opening match of the 2026 World Cup continues to thrill fans with intense drama and historic moments.

Details: In the 49th minute of the clash between Mexico and South Africa, we witnessed the tournament's first red card. South African defender Siohephelo Sithole was shown a straight red for a last-man foul, leaving his team shorthanded at the most crucial stage of the match, with Mexico leading 1-0.

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The incident unfolded early in the second half when Mexico's attack tore through the visitors' defensive lines. The Mexican striker was bursting forward at full speed, racing almost one-on-one with the goalkeeper, with acres of space ahead just outside the box. Chasing desperately, Sithole lunged in with a risky sliding tackle from behind on the edge of the penalty area, hoping to prevent a potential second goal.

This sending-off was truly historic: for the first time in 32 years, a RED CARD was shown in the World Cup opener! The last time this happened was way back in 1994, when Bolivian legend Marco Etcheverry was dismissed in the curtain-raiser against Germany (1-0). Now, in 2026, Sithole has "matched" this rare World Cup anti-record.

As of the 55th minute, Mexico still leads 1-0.

Reminder: Mexico made history at the FIFA World Cup.