Mexico opened their World Cup campaign with a dramatic 1-0 victory over South Africa, but the match will be remembered more for refereeing controversy than the result. Former Premier League referee Andy Davies analyzed three pivotal VAR decisions that saw South Africa finish with just nine players on the pitch.

The first red card came in the 49th minute when South Africa's Sphephelo Sithole brought down Brian Gutiérrez through on goal. This denial of a goal-scoring opportunity decision stood after VAR review, making Sithole the tournament's first sending-off. In the 84th minute, Themba Zwane received a harsh second red for violent conduct after his hand caught Roberto Alvarado's face during a challenge.

The most contentious decision arrived in stoppage time when Mexico's César Montes clipped Khuliso Mudau outside the box. While VAR upheld the call, Davies questioned whether this met the threshold for an obvious goal-scoring opportunity, suggesting Mudau was more likely to cross than shoot. The match marked a World Cup first with three red cards shown in an opening game.

These early VAR controversies set a precedent for the tournament's officiating standards. The decisions directly impacted South Africa's ability to compete, leaving them numerically disadvantaged for crucial periods and ultimately contributing to their opening defeat.