South Africa defender Sphephelo Sithole holds the unwanted title of being the first player to be sent off at the 2026 World Cup.
South Africa were handed the mountainous task of beating host nation Mexico at the legendary Estadio Azteca on the opening day of the World Cup.
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Prolific forward Julian Quinones gave Mexico the lead after just nine minutes, capitalising on some sloppy defending from the South Africans.
Half time came and went with the 2010 hosts offering very little, and their day went from bad to worse after Sithole was shown a straight red card.
The 27-year-old gave the referee no other choice after bringing Brian Gutierrez down in a last man challenge as he ran through on goal.
He became is the first player to be sent off in the World Cup’s opening game since Marco Etcheverry for Bolivia against Germany in 1994.
