4 min readJun 12, 2026 07:49 AM IST The 2018 World Cup had four red cards. So did 2022. On Thursday night in Mexico City, the 2026 tournament nearly matched both in a single game. Three players were dismissed as Mexico beat South Africa 2-0 at the Azteca. Two for South Africa, one for Mexico. The most in any opening match in World Cup history. Pierluigi Collina, who has run FIFA’s refereeing operation since 2017, is widely regarded as the greatest referee of all time. In 105 matches as an official, he averaged fewer than 0.15 red cards per game. He was famously reluctant to reach for his pocket. The man who barely showed reds as a referee is now presiding over a system that showed three in one night. That is either coincidence or the consequence of something deliberate. AS IT HAPPENED | Mexico vs South Africa, FIFA World Cup 2026 opening match The new rules matter here. The 2026 World Cup is the first major tournament to use IFAB’s landmark new laws, which …