The 2026 FIFA World Cup got off to a turbulent start as referee Wilton Pereira Sampaio brandished three red cards during the opening match between South Africa and Mexico at the Mexico City Stadium.

South Africa's Yaya Sithole and Themba Zwane were both dismissed, leaving Bafana Bafana severely shorthanded in what should have been a historic occasion for the nation. Mexico's Cesar Montes also received his marching orders, making it a chaotic afternoon for both sides.

The extraordinary scenes at the Mexico City Stadium ensured the first match of the tournament will be remembered as much for its disciplinary drama as for the football itself. Three red cards in a single game — let alone a World Cup opener — is an exceptionally rare occurrence on the global stage.

For South Africa, the dismissals of Sithole and Zwane represented a crushing blow. Bafana Bafana were appearing on the World Cup stage in a moment of enormous national pride, yet their campaign began under a dark cloud of controversy and ill-discipline.

Mexico, meanwhile, were also reduced in numbers following Montes's red card, ensuring neither side could contest the remainder of the match at full strength.

The chaotic opening game sets a dramatic tone for the rest of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which is being co-hosted across multiple nations in North America.