Sithole is the first player to receive a red card at the 2026 World Cup

The main midfielder of the South African national team, Yaya Sithole, became the author of the first expulsion at the 2026 World Cup. The incident happened in the 50th minute of the opening match of the tournament against the Mexican national team. The 27-year-old footballer fouled Brian Gutierrez, who was coming face-to-face with the goalkeeper. The referee did not hesitate to show Sithole a straight red card, leaving the African team in the minority. After the designated free kick, the Mexicans could not take advantage of the numerical advantage in the episode - Raul Jimenez hit the wall. For Sithole, this match became a real nightmare. As early as the 9th minute, the midfielder made a blunder near his own penalty area, losing the ball under pressure from the opponent. Julián Quiñones took advantage of this, who opened the scoring and scored the first goal of the World Cup. The match between Mexico and South Africa takes place at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City. After Sitore's withdrawal, the Mexicans continue to lead 1:0. You can watch the opening match of the World Cup 2026 online on the media website.