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"We kept our composure," Javier Aguirre said of Mexico's showing in the opening fixture of the 2026 World Cup. The same could hardly be said of South Africa.
A chaotic, mistake-riddled performance saw Hugo Broos's team concede two goals and receive as many red cards. A late (and contentious) dismissal for Mexico's César Montes ensured this match would be remembered for all the wrong reasons.
The first ever World Cup opener to see three players sent off instantly places it among the most red-card laden games in the tournament's entire 96-year history. Yet it wasn't quite the most ill-tempered match of all time.
The Dirtiest World Cup Matches of All Time
7. Mexico 2–0 South Africa (2026)
Red cards: Yaya Sithole (49'), Themba Zwane (84'), César Montes (90'+2)
Despite its place among the World Cup's most card-heavy encounters, the opening game of the 2026 tournament didn't feel like a particularly brutal affair. Brazilian official Wilton Sampaio distributed as many yellow cards as reds: three apiece.
Yaya Sithole endured a World Cup debut he'll want to forget, adding to his first-half loss of possession that led to Julián Quiñones's opening goal with two yellow cards. Themba Zwane appeared bewildered by his dismissal for a physical tangle with Roberto Alvarado, while César Montes could consider himself extremely unlucky to be sent off for a late challenge on Khuliso Mudau.
6. Croatia 2–2 Australia (2006)
This crazy match between 🇭🇷 & 🇦🇺 from 2006 🤯#FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/wHKUab4fkw
Red cards: Dario Šimić (85'), Brett Emerton (87'), Josip Šimunić (90'+3)
Despite being one of the rare World Cup games to produce three red cards, it was the sheer volume of bookings issued by referee Graham Poll that truly etched this match into tournament folklore.
Croatian defender Josip Šimunić was notoriously shown three yellow cards before finally being dismissed. Due to a strong Australian accent from the Canberra-born center back, Poll mistakenly identified Šimunić as a Socceroo when recording his second yellow.
5. Italy 1–1 USMNT (2006)
Red cards: Daniele De Rossi (28'), Pablo Mastroeni (45'), Eddie Pope (47')
The U.S. may have finished the game with nine men, but it was the brutal elbow from Italy's Daniele De Rossi that generated the greatest outrage. Had the Roman midfielder not penned a letter of apology to FIFA, he would have faced a ban for the entire tournament rather than just four matches.
Thanks to his contrition, De Rossi was able to participate in that year's World Cup final, coming off the bench to slot home his penalty in a victorious shootout against France.
4. South Africa 1–1 Denmark (1998)
Red cards: Miklos Molnar (66'), Alfred Phiri (68'), Morten Wieghorst (85')
During his tenure as FIFA president, Sepp Blatter generally got his way (the Nobel Peace Prize being a notable exception). Shortly after calling on 1998 World Cup officials to crack down on misconduct, Colombian referee John Jairo Toro answered his superior's call with three red cards and seven yellows, four of which were for time-wasting. Toro may have overstepped the mark.
Alfred Phiri showed poor judgment in throwing an elbow, but Miklos Molnar could feel aggrieved at his harsh punishment following what appeared to be a routine collision. Even South Africa's Benni McCarthy struggled to comprehend why Morten Wieghorst had been dismissed for their coming together.
"The guy barely even touched me," South Africa's goalscorer remarked. "The referee went out of his way to give him a red card and I am sure that was a very silly, a stupid decision from the referee."
3. Hungary 4–2 Brazil (1954)
Brazil 🇧🇷to face Hungary 🇭🇺in the quarterfinals of World Cup 1954, AKA The Battle of Berne:
Castilho, Djalma Santos, Nílton Santos, Brandãozinho, Pinheiro, Bauer, Julinho, Didi, Baltazar, Maurinho, Humberto pic.twitter.com/kLPBUYImY3
Red cards: József Bozsik (71'), Nilton Santos (71'), Humberto (79')
Every Brazilian campaign at a World Cup tends to be a reaction to the previous tournament. After being seen as having capitulated meekly against Uruguay on home soil in the 1950 final, Brazil was determined not to go down without a fight four years on.
Unfortunately, the Seleção overcorrected, engaging in far too literal a battle with Hungary in the 1954 quarterfinal that would become known as 'The Battle of Berne.' After a mass brawl involving 20 players erupted, it's almost remarkable that only three were ultimately sent off.
2. Brazil 1–1 Czechoslovakia (1938)
#TDIH: 12 June 1938 - Battle of Bordeaux. First time that 3 players were sent off in a #WorldCup match #More2Football pic.twitter.com/oAy4CIopKY
Red cards: Zezé Procópio (14'), Martim (89'), Jan Říha (89')
This was far from a pleasant afternoon for Czechoslovakia's brilliant star Oldřich Nejedlý. The creative midfielder was on the receiving end of a vicious foul from Zezé Procópio, which resulted in the Brazilian's dismissal within the first quarter-hour.
A clash between Martim and Jan Říha further depleted the playing numbers before Nejedlý himself was forced off with a broken foot. Czech goalkeeper František Plánička also suffered a broken collarbone, yet remarkably played on for the full duration of the quarterfinal.
1. Portugal 1–0 Netherlands (2006)
4️⃣ red cards. 🟥
1️⃣6️⃣ yellow cards. 🟨#OTD in 2006, 'The Battle of Nuremberg' gave us one of the most dramatic #FIFAWorldCup matches of all time. 🇵🇹🇳🇱 pic.twitter.com/5dTNaDnEPA
Red cards: Costinha (45'+1), Khalid Boulahrouz (64'), Deco (78'), Giovanni van Bronckhorst (90'+5)
After four red cards and 16 yellows, then-FIFA president Sepp Blatter still felt more could have been done. "There could have been a yellow card for the referee," he quipped. "He was not at the same level as the players."