Mexico win the opener amid three red cards.
The tournament kicked off where two of its greatest editions were staged. Mexico beat South Africa two nil at the Estadio Azteca, Julián Quiñones striking inside nine minutes and Raúl Jiménez adding the second, on a feisty night that produced three red cards. The Azteca became the first ground to host matches at three different mens World Cups, after 1970 and 1986. Later, in Guadalajara, South Korea came from behind to beat Czechia two one. Ladislav Krejci put the Czechs ahead, then In-Beom Hwang and Hyeon-Gyu Oh turned it around. A comeback to close the opening day. The tournament had found its jeopardy early.