Watch each World Cup purpose from the opening day of motion (June 11)

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is formally underway and we had 5 targets scored on the primary day of motion throughout two video games. The primary sport on provide noticed host nation Mexico dispatch South Africa 2-0. Though El Tri’s targets have been historic for various causes, there ended up being extra pink playing cards (three) than targets. When you had that in your bingo card for the opener, congratulations.

Within the late sport, South Korea pulled off a comeback victory over Czechia within the second half after a powerful show that would gas a magical run within the competitors. Hwang In-Beom and substitute Oh Hyun-Gyu each scored in a 13-minute span to safe all three factors.

Take a look at all of the targets, pink playing cards and extra from the opening day of motion.

Julián Quiñones turns into first Concacaf participant to attain opening World Cup purpose

Mexico opened the event in entrance of the El Tri devoted on the Estadio Azteca (Mexico Metropolis Stadium) seeking to break their opening match curse. Some sloppy play out of the again by South Africa noticed Sphephelo Sithole barged off the ball in a harmful space. As quickly as Quiñones gathered it, a purpose felt inevitable. The roar of the gang actually signified the beginning of the event.

From dangerous to worse for Sithole…

A gap day South Africa goes to wish to neglect quick. The midfielder dedicated a DOGSO offense, or denial of a goalscoring alternative, simply on the sting of the field and he was proven his marching orders. The one silver lining, if there was to be one, was that it wasn’t a penalty.

Raul Jiménez has his second!

Raul Jiménez may be very a lot Mexico’s talisman up high. The 35-year-old rose to prominence throughout his time within the Premier League with Wolverhampton Wanderers and Fulham. Although, a head damage within the 2020-21 season threatened to finish his profession early. For every part he’s gone by to rebuild himself over time, you could possibly inform by his celebration and the noise emanating from these in attendance how a lot his first World Cup purpose meant to him. What a second.

If Mexico is to go deep within the event, they’ll want their striker firing on all cylinders.

Themba Zwade put South Africa in a good deeper gap late within the second half after being proven a pink card for violent conduct. From worse to… catastrophic?

César Montes will get in on the motion… the unsuitable form!

It could’ve been the stainless opening to the World Cup for Mexico having received their first opening match of the event of their group’s historical past if not for César Montes’s pink card in second half stoppage time. Dominated a denial of a goalscoring alternative, it’s greater than an unforced error given they have been up two targets towards 9 males with lower than six minutes to play within the sport.

Montes, Sithole and Zwade are all suspended for his or her subsequent respective video games within the event.

Czechia-rsenal? Set piece targets have arrived

South Korea vs. Czechia was a captivating show. Hong Myung-Bo’s group tried to determine their possession-based system, enjoying by the traces early whereas counting on stars Lee Kang-in and Son Heung-min to supply the decisive second. For all the harmful possibilities they created early, nevertheless, it was Czechia who broke the impasse within the second half.

A protracted throw set piece noticed defender Ladislav Krejcí rise highest within the field, blasting a header into the again of the online. There have been query marks of offside with a participant standing in entrance of the goalkeeper, however the purpose was given.

Set piece once more, ole ole! Or… set piece for the primary time this summer season, ole ole? Arsenal coach Nicolas Jover have to be licking his lips.

The South Korean response

Hwang In-Beom wasted little time getting his nation again within the sport. The Feyenoord midfielder made a harmful run in-behind Czechia’s backline, deftly chopped the ball onto his proper foot as he despatched a defender for a memento earlier than tucking the ball in on the far publish. The purpose of the day? Maybe!

The substitute secures the factors!

Oh Hyun-Gyu was the hero on the day scoring the game-winner off the bench within the eightieth minute. A superb ball excessive discovered Hwang who doubled his purpose contributions on the night time with a lethal cross to search out Oh. Your entire motion personified South Korea’s willingness to stay to their sport plan they usually have been rewarded for it ultimately. All three factors places the Koreans in a powerful place to qualify for the knockout stage.

Whereas there weren’t any pink playing cards within the second sport, Son reminded followers around the globe attending video games to concentrate always. The LAFC famous person tried a rifled effort from outdoors the field that went over the bar and into the stands.

It regarded just like the fan tried to deflect the ball down, however it bounced up and hit them within the face. One, hope they’re okay and two, keep alert for any errant pictures for the remainder of the event please.

Have your say in our ballot to resolve what the purpose of the day was, as we cowl each purpose, goof and every part in between all through the World Cup.