The 2026 World Cup has barely begun and has already left an unprecedented mark both on and off the field. The opening match between Mexico and South Africa became the most watched World Cup match in Spanish of all time, bringing together a total audience delivery of 12.1 million viewers between Telemundo, Peacock and Telemundo's streaming platforms.

The figure also set other historical records for the broadcast of the tournament. The match became the most watched opening game of a World Cup regardless of language, as well as the most watched group stage match that did not involve the United States team.

On a digital level, it was positioned as the most streamed match in Mexico and as the group stage match with the highest consumption in Spanish.

While the audience broke records, the Mexican team responded on the field with a performance that also ended a historic wait.

Mexico breaks a long streak in World Cup premieres

The team led by Javier “Vasco” Aguirre beat South Africa 2-0 and achieved a victory for the first time in a World Cup opening match. Until this tournament played in the United States, Mexico and Canada, the Mexican team had accumulated five losses and two draws in World Cup debuts.

From the beginning of the match, the local team took control of the ball and maintained an offensive proposal that quickly generated opportunities. Just in the fifth minute, Raúl Jiménez came close to opening the scoring with a left-footed shot that was contained by goalkeeper Ronwen Williams.

The pressure continued and found reward soon after. In the ninth minute, an error in the start between Williams and Sphephelo Sithole allowed Mexico to recover the ball. The subsequent pass found Julián Quiñones, who scored with a cross shot to make it 1-0.

Mexican superiority was maintained for much of the first half. Jiménez again demanded of the South African goalkeeper in the 42nd minute and, seconds later, Quiñones hit the post with a shot.

The second half ended up tilting the development of the game. South Africa lost Sithole to expulsion in the 49th minute after cutting off a clear goal-scoring action and he was conditioned for the rest of the match.

The second goal came in the 67th minute. Jiménez connected with a header and sealed a goal that came more than five years after he had resumed his career after skull surgery.

The closing left another blow for the African team with the expulsion of Themba Zwane in the 84th minute. Near the end, Mexico also ended up with ten players after the red card shown to César Montes.

With the victory, Mexico will begin its next World Cup challenge next Wednesday against South Korea in Guadalajara, while South Africa will seek to recover against the Czech Republic in Atlanta.