Mexico at the center of match-fixing investigation at World Cup 2026
The Mexican national team is under scrutiny after the Copenhagen Group flagged seven matches in the 2026 World Cup for possible betting irregularities, including their opening game against South Africa. Despite leading their group with 9 points (3W-0D-0L) and a +6 goal difference, the specter of match-fixing looms over their campaign.
What happened in Mexico vs South Africa?
The World Cup 2026 opener between Mexico and South Africa drew attention not for the result (2-0 for Mexico), but for the red card given to South Africa's Themba Zwane in the 84th minute. According to the Copenhagen Group's report, there was a suspicious surge in bets on a red card in the final minutes, raising red flags.
Why does this matter for Mexico?
While the alerts are at the yellow level (no concrete evidence of match-fixing), FIFA is investigating. Mexico, coming off a 2-3 loss to England on July 6, aims to maintain its group lead with a 5-point cushion over South Africa. The integrity of the tournament is crucial for their performance.
What other matches are under suspicion?
In addition to Mexico vs South Africa, other flagged matches include: - Spain vs Cape Verde (0-0), with millions bet on a draw. - Spain vs Saudi Arabia, due to VAR delay in disallowing a goal. - USA vs Belgium, involving Folarin Balogun's participation after a controversial red card.
The Copenhagen Group has requested FIFA's explanation for these cases, but no further details have been released yet.
