The Copacetic Cupdate: Mexico Kick off the World Cup with a 2-0 Win; Canada & USA Play Today
Also in Group A: Guadalajara won't do for Czechia as Korea Republic win 2-1.
The 2026 Men’s World Cup is finally here.
The competition officially kicked off in Mexico yesterday with two matches. El Tri (Mexico) easily handled South Africa 2-0 in a match that started with an opening ceremony and Shakira, and ended with more red cards than goals. Later, in Guadalajara, Korea Republic started strong against Czechia, but had to battle back after the European side scored first.
Today, the other two host nations — Canada and the United States — will begin their competitions. The Canucks will host a Bosnia and Herzegovina in Toronto, while the United States will host Paraguay in Los Angeles.
While Canada and Bosnia are meeting for the first time, the Stars and Stripes have won five of their nine matches against Paraguay, the most recent being a 2-1 win in a November 2025 friendly.
Throughout this World Cup, Soccer Sheet will be reporting on all the matches - including the ones you’ve missed. Subscribe below to get the Copacetic Cupdate everyday during the tournament.
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Yesterday’s Results
Group A: Mexico 2 - 0 South Africa
In 2010’s World Cup, it was South Africa hosting Mexico in the first match of the tournament, vuvuzelas and all. While that match ended 1-1, this Mexican squad was the superior side.
While El Tri dominated possession and the scoreline, the match was defined by disciplinary chaos, featuring three red cards and a flurry of historical milestones.
Mexico took immediate control, fueled by an electric home atmosphere. Julián Quiñones capitalized on a heavy touch by South Africa’s Sithole in the 9th minute, slotting the ball through Ronwen Williams’ legs. Mexico nearly doubled the lead before the break when Quiñones hit the post in the 42nd minute. South Africa struggled to progress the ball, recording only one shot on target in the first 45 minutes.
The second half saw South Africa’s hopes evaporate through cards rather than goals. Sphephelo Sithole was sent off early (49’) for clipping Gutierrez’s heels on a breakaway. Later, substitute Themba Zwane was dismissed for violent conduct (84’) after a VAR review showed him catching Alvarado in the face. Mexico’s César Montes was also shown a straight red in stoppage time (90+2’) for a tactical foul to stop a rare South African counter-attack.
Group A: Korea Republic 2 - 1 Czechia
The second match of the World Cup, at Estadio Guadalajara, featured the first competitive meeting between Korea Republic and Czechia.
The last time American audiences saw the Korean side, they beat the United States 0-2 in a 2025 friendly that featured a goal and an assist from newly-minted MLS player Son Heung-min.
Korea dominated the first half, with 8 shots to 3 for Czechia. Despite the barrage, Korea could only muster an xG (expected goals) of 0.52 — to 0.29 for Czechia — with 80% of the expected goals coming from Son.
The second half began with "Golden" from K-Pop Demon Hunters playing throughout the stadium, and Korea immediately got to work trying to find the winner, with two shots in the first five minutes.
In the 55th minute Son looked like he may have finally broken through, but yet again Kovár was there to cut the Korean captain’s angle and block the shot. Before leaving the pitch in the
Then, against the run of play, Czechia opened the scoring off of a set piece — and like half of the squad’s World Cup goals since the fall of the Iron Curtain, it was a header.
Vladimír Coufal found the head of jumping Czech captain Ladislav Krejčí, who slotted the ball straight in goal in the 59th minute.
Korea were quick to respond. Continuing to attack the top left corner of the goal box, Hwang In-beom beat two Czech defenders and their keeper, cut to the right, then proceeded to lob the ball into the right corner of the goal in the the 67th minute.
Then, in the 78th minute, it looked as if Czechia would land their 8th header in 15 World Cup goals, but the go-ahead winner from Soucek was called off.
The next big strike, in the 80th minute, would count — for Korea.
Hwang got his second goal contribution of the match, assisting Oh Hyeon-Gyu's sliding strike. Oh’s goal would be decisive.
Today’s Schedule:
3:00 PM - Group B - Canada vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina
As a host nation, Canada (along with the U.S. and Mexico) qualified for the competition automatically, their second in a row after Qatar 2022.
Bosnia’s battle was much harder, making it out of stiff UEFA competition. Earlier this year, Soccer Sheet spoke with Bosnian women’s international Emina Ekić about what it meant to see Bosnia and Herzegovina make it to the World Cup:
I’m beyond excited!! I’m so proud of my country!! They fought so hard and played with so much heart. It was truly amazing to be able to witness the electric atmosphere as well … Tears of joy!!!
We’re hoping to see Bosnia’s world-record holding džezva coffee pot make its way to Canada as well.
9:00 PM - Group D - USA vs. Paraguay
If there was any question the fans would show up for the United States, their friendly against Germany in Chicago last week put those fears to rest.
The USMNT enter today’s match on a strong group stage streak: they’ve lost just once in their last nine group-stage outings, 1-0 to Germany in 2014. However, they’re 2-3 against South American opponents in the World Cup, and historically, CONMEBOL (South America) has dominated Concacaf (North America) opponents, going 11-1-1 in their last 13 World Cup meetings.
Paraguay have had strong runs in recent competitions, including a 2010 quarterfinal run. However, their last win in an opener was in 1986, against Iraq.
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