A history of World Cup red cards: high feet, lost heads and a covered mouth

A fter a fairly pedestrian first half of the opening match of the 2026 World Cup , the game burst into life in the second period. South Africa midfielder Sphephelo Sithole, who had been at fault for Mexico’s opening goal, compounded his error by being sent off in the 49th minute for denying a goalscoring opportunity. When Themba Zwane was dismissed, South Africa became the 15th team to have two players sent off in the same World Cup match. There was time for one more red card before full-time, the Mexico centre-back César Montes seeing red in stoppage time and following in the footsteps of his manager, Javier Aguirre, who was sent off while playing for Mexico in the 1986 quarter-final against West Germany in Monterrey. The Mexico v South Africa match was the seventh World Cup game to feature more than two dismissals. Referees have been unusually trigger happy with their cards so far at this tournament. When Belgium defender Nathan Ngoy received his marching orders in a goalless draw with Iran on Sunday, he became the eighth player to be sent off – already matching the total in the previous two tournaments combined (four in Russia and four in Qatar). Miguel Almirón was shown a straight red in Paraguay’s match against Turkey. Photograph: Jeff Chiu/AP One of the four red cards in Russia four years ago came during a chaotic quarter-final penalty shootout, with Denzil Dumfries – penalised for taunting Argentina – becoming the eighth Dutchman to be sent off at a World Cup . …