South African midfielder Sphephelo Sithole entered the history books on Thursday (June 11) by becoming only the fourth player ever to receive a straight red card in the opening match of a FIFA World Cup.
The 27-year-old was sent off in the 49th minute of the 2026 FIFA World Cup opener between South Africa and Mexico at Mexico City Stadium for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity after bringing down a Mexican player just outside the penalty area.
🚨🌎 SIPHEPHELO SITHOLE HAS BEEN SENT OFF! ⛔️
This is sad and scary pic.twitter.com/LsuPXgxqd5— wisely (@JustMane_) June 11, 2026
Germany’s Hans Pesser was the first player to receive a straight red card in the opening match of a FIFA World Cup. He set the unwanted record during the 1938 tournament opener
between Germany and Switzerland at Parc des Princes in Paris on June 4, 1938.
Pesser was later joined on the list by Cameroon’s André Kana-Biyik, who was sent off during the opening match of the 1990 FIFA World Cup against Argentina. In the same match, fellow Cameroonian Benjamin Massing was also dismissed, but his red card came after receiving two yellow cards rather than a straight red.
Players to receive red card in first match of a World Cup edition
| PLAYER | COUNTRY | AGAINST | VENUE | DATE |
| Hans Pesser | Germany | Switzerland | Parc des Princes, Paris | June 4, 1938 |
| André Kana-Biyik | Cameron | Argentina | San Siro, Milan | June 8, 1990 |
| Marco Etcheverry | Bolivia | Germany | Soldier Field, Chicago | June 17, 1994 |
| Sphephelo Sithole | South Africa | Mexico | Mexico City, Stadium | June 11, 2026 |
Bolivia’s Marco Etcheverry was the third player to receive a straight red card in a FIFA World Cup opening match. He was sent off against Germany at Soldier Field in Chicago during the opening game of the 1994 tournament.
Sithole has now joined that unwanted list, becoming the first player in 32 years to receive a straight red card in a FIFA World Cup opener.
Themba Zwane also sent off!
If Sithole’s red card was not enough, South Africa suffered another setback in the 84th minute when Themba Zwane was also sent off for a serious foul on a Mexican player.
The two dismissals mean South Africa has become only the second team in FIFA World Cup history to have two players sent off in the tournament’s opening match. The only previous instance occurred in the 1990 World Cup opener, when Cameroon’s André Kana-Biyik and Benjamin Massing were both shown red cards during their famous 1-0 victory over Argentina.
