The tournament's ceremonial first whistle, blown at the Estadio Azteca — the first ground ever to host matches at three different World Cups. Co-hosts Mexico did the expected and saw off South Africa to settle the home crowd and open Group A with a clean sheet.

The numbers confirm a thoroughly one-sided contest that the 2-0 scoreline almost understates: Mexico controlled 60% of the ball and posted 1.46 xG to South Africa's near-non-existent 0.07, meaning Bafana Bafana barely registered a meaningful goal threat all night. Quiñones' 9th-minute opener immediately put South Africa chasing, and once Sithole was sent off at 50 minutes for serious foul play the contest was effectively over before Jiménez's 67th-minute second goal. Mexico's xG of 1.46 from 16 shots roughly matched their two goals, so they were efficient rather than wasteful, while South Africa's 5 shots and 0.07 xG reflect a side reduced to nine men (a second red for Zwane at 84') and producing nothing of substance. The three red cards — Montes' stoppage-time dismissal for the hosts plus two for South Africa — gave the game its ill-tempered character without ever threatening Mexico's command.