While Mexico got off to a strong start at the FIFA World Cup 2026, beating South Africa 2-0 on Thursday at Estadio Azteca, the match was marred by ill-discipline from both sides.
Three red cards were brandished with Mexico’s Cesar Montes and South Africa’s Yaya Sithole, and Themba Zwane being sent off.
This was the first time in the tournament history where red cards where shown in the opening game of the World Cup.
The record for most red cards in a World Cup match belongs to the 2006 Round of 16 match between Portugal and Netherlands, also dubbed the ‘Battle of Nuremberg’, where four players were dismissed.
List of matches with 3 red cards or more
3 reds – Brazil vs Czechslovakia, 1938 – Zezé Procópio, Machado; Jan Říha
3 reds – Hungary vs Brazil, 1954 – József Bozsik; Humberto, Nílton Santos
3 reds – Denmark vs South Africa, 1998 – Miklos Molnar, Morten Wieghorst; Alfred Phiri
3 reds – Australia vs Croatia, 2006 – Brett Emerton; Dario Simic, Josip Simunic
3 reds – Italy vs USA, 2006 – Daniele de Rossi; Pablo Mastroeni, Eddie Pope
4 reds – Portugal vs Netherlands, 2006 – Costinha, Deca; Khalid Boulahrouz, Giovanni van Bronckhorst
3 reds – Mexico vs South Africa, 2026 – Cesar Montes; Yaya Sithole, Themba Zwane
Published on Jun 12, 2026
