Referee Wilton Sampaio steals the spotlight in World Cup opener

The 2026 World Cup began on June 11 with Mexico’s 2-0 win over South Africa, but the evening belonged to Brazilian referee Wilton Sampaio. His controversial calls and three red cards made the match one of the most chaotic opening games in World Cup history and quickly turned him into a trending topic online.

South Africa’s Yaya Sithole was first sent off for stopping a clear scoring chance. Later, Sampaio went to the VAR monitor and then dismissed Temba Zwane after ruling that he had struck Roberto Alvarado in the face during a challenge for the ball. That decision drew immediate disagreement, with ITV pundit Ally McCoist calling it “a very difficult decision,” while former U.S. star Landon Donovan said, “I cannot see how that is a red card.”

Sampaio then produced a third red card deep into stoppage time, sending off Mexico defender Cesar Montes for denying another obvious goal-scoring opportunity. That call also caused debate, but it stood. The Brazilian referee, who had already been at the center of controversy during the 2022 World Cup, was widely mocked and praised in equal measure across social media, including in Brazil.

The numbers underscored how unusual the night was. It was the first time in history that a World Cup opener ended with three red cards, and only the sixth time in any World Cup match that three or more reds were shown. The game was compared with Portugal’s clash with the Netherlands in the 2006 round of 16, known as the “Battle of Nuremberg,” which featured four red cards and 16 yellows. Mexico’s goals were scored by Julian Quinones and Raul Jimenez, but the referee became the story.