A dramatic opening day of the 2026 FIFA World Cup delivered everything football fans could have hoped for—goals, controversy, discipline issues and remarkable comebacks. Host nation Mexico launched its campaign with an impressive victory over South Africa at the iconic Estadio Azteca, while South Korea produced a spirited turnaround against Czechia in Guadalajara. The tournament's first day also entered the record books for an unusually high number of red cards, highlighting the intensity and pressure associated with football's biggest stage.
