फिफा विश्वकप २०२६ : उद्घाटन खेलमै तीन रातो कार्ड, मेक्सिकोको विजयी सुरुवातFIFA World Cup 2026 Opens With Drama: Three Red Cards, Mexico Claim Historic Victory
फिफा विश्वकप २०२६ को पर्दा उठ्नासाथ फुटबल जगत्लाई एउटा अविस्मरणीय दृश्य उपहार मिल्यो। मेक्सिको सिटीको ऐतिहासिक एस्टेका रंगशालामा असी हजारभन्दा बढी दर्शकको गर्जनबीच सह–आयोजक मेक्सिकोले दक्षिण अफ्रिकालाई २–० गोलले पराजित गर्दै विश्वकप अभियान सुखद ढंगले थाल्यो। गोलको रोमाञ्च, दर्शकको उन्माद र मैदानभित्रको तनाव — सबै एकसाथ बुनिएको यो उद्घाटन खेल फुटबलप्रेमीको सम्झनामा सजिलै मेटिने छैन।
खेल सुरु भएको नौ मिनेट नपुग्दै मेक्सिकोका आक्रामक मिडफिल्डर जुलियन क्विनोनेसले प्रतिद्वन्द्वीको जालो हल्लाउँदा एस्टेकाको विशाल रंगशाला एकैचोटि हर्षनादले गुञ्जियो। विज्ञहरूका अनुसार सन् दुई हजार छ यताका विश्वकप उद्घाटन खेलहरूमध्ये यो सबैभन्दा छिटो दर्ज भएको पहिलो गोल हो। गोल खाएपछि दक्षिण अफ्रिकाले दबाब बढाउँदै बराबरीको खोजी गर्यो, तर मेक्सिकी रक्षापंक्तिले त्यो प्रयासलाई बारम्बार निष्फल बनायो।
खेलको सडसट्ठीऔँ मिनेटमा मेक्सिकोका अनुभवी स्ट्राइकर राउल जिमेनेजले दोस्रो गोल थपेर जितको ढोका बन्द गरिदिए। विश्वकपमा चौथोपटक खेलिरहेका जिमेनेजका लागि यो उनको विश्वकप करिअरकै पहिलो व्यक्तिगत गोल थियो। लामो प्रतीक्षापछि आएको त्यस गोलले दर्शकदीर्घामा भावनाको ज्वार नै उर्लायो — अनुभवी खेलाडीको यो उपलब्धिलाई दर्शकहरूले खडा भएर सम्मान दिए।
तर यो खेललाई सबैभन्दा बढी इतिहासको पानामा दर्ज गरेको कुरा भनेको गोल होइन, रातो कार्डको अभूतपूर्व वर्षा हो। विश्वकपको उद्घाटन खेलमा एकै पटक तीनवटा रातो कार्ड देखाइएको यो पहिलो घटना हो। दक्षिण अफ्रिकाका याया सिथोले र थेम्बा ज्वानेले एकपछि अर्को गर्दै सिधै रातो कार्ड पाउँदा दक्षिण अफ्रिकाको टोली नौ खेलाडीमा खुम्चियो। मैदान खाली हुँदै जाँदा टोलीको अवस्था थप नाजुक बन्दै गयो।
खेलको अन्तिम समयमा मेक्सिकोका डिफेन्डर सेसार मोन्टेस पनि रातो कार्डबाट बचेनन्। दुवै पक्षका तीन खेलाडी मैदानबाहिर जानुपर्दा खेलको उत्तरार्ध निकै तनावग्रस्त र अनिश्चित बन्यो। रेफ्रीका निर्णयहरूले दुवै खेमालाई असन्तुष्ट बनाए र खेलपछि पनि विवाद सेलाउन समय लाग्ने देखिन्छ।
यस जितसँगै मेक्सिकोले समूह 'ए' मा तीन अंकसहित शीर्ष स्थान ओगटेको छ। विश्वकप उद्घाटन खेलमा पराजित नभएको आफ्नो परम्परागत शृंखला पनि उसले कायमै राखेको छ। दक्षिण अफ्रिका भने दुई नियमित खेलाडी निलम्बनमा पर्ने भएकाले अर्को खेलमा थप चुनौतीपूर्ण परिस्थितिको सामना गर्नुपर्नेछ। उद्घाटन खेलमै यति नाटकीय घटनाक्रम भएपछि विश्वकप २०२६ कस्तो रोमाञ्चक हुने हो भन्ने अनुमान दर्शकहरू अहिलेदेखि नै गर्न थालिसकेका छन्।
The FIFA World Cup 2026 announced its arrival with a spectacle that had everything — glory, emotion, and controversy woven into a single unforgettable evening. In front of a roaring crowd of over 80,000 at the iconic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, co-host Mexico defeated South Africa 2–0 in the tournament's opening fixture, setting the tone for what promises to be an extraordinary month of football. This was not just an opening match — it was a statement.
The stadium had barely settled into the rhythm of the game when Julian Quiñones struck in just the ninth minute, sending the Azteca into a frenzy of noise and color. According to analysts, it is the earliest opening goal recorded in a World Cup opener since 2006. South Africa responded with purpose, pushing forward in search of an equalizer, but Mexico's defensive line held firm, absorbing pressure and frustrating every attempt to breach it.
The second goal arrived in the 67th minute, and with it came one of the evening's most emotional moments. Veteran striker Raúl Jiménez, appearing at his fourth World Cup, finally scored his first ever personal goal at the tournament. The wait had been long, and when the ball hit the net, the reaction inside the Azteca was something far beyond ordinary celebration — the crowd rose as one to honor a man who had given so much to Mexican football over the years.
Yet it was not the goals but the red cards that will define this match in the history books. For the first time ever in a World Cup opening game, three red cards were shown in a single fixture. South Africa's Yaya Sithole and Themba Zwane were both dismissed with straight red cards, reducing their side to just nine men. With two players gone, South Africa's already difficult task became close to impossible, and the match grew increasingly tense and fractured in its final stages.
Mexico were not entirely spared from the chaos either. Defender César Montes received a red card late in the game, ensuring that neither side escaped the evening without consequence. With three players from both teams sent off, the second half descended into a nervy, stop-start affair that kept spectators on the edge of their seats even with the result seemingly settled. Referee decisions drew frustration from both camps, and debates over those calls are unlikely to fade quickly.
With this victory, Mexico sit top of Group A with three points, keeping alive their proud tradition of remaining unbeaten in World Cup opening matches. South Africa, meanwhile, face a daunting road ahead — two of their key players will serve automatic suspensions for the next game, adding serious pressure to a squad that will need to regroup quickly. If the opening night of the 2026 World Cup is any indication of what lies ahead, football fans around the world are in for a tournament they will not forget for a very long time.
