The opening match between Mexico and South Africa (3-2) delivered a completely wild spectacle. But it was not only the action on the pitch that grabbed attention: Brazilian referee Wilton Sampaio became one of the most talked-about figures in world football.
The referee became the star of the show despite himself. During the highly charged encounter, he handed out three red cards: to South Africans Sphephelo Sithole and Themba Zwane, as well as Mexican defender Cesar Montes. It was a remarkably rare statistic in recent World Cup history.
A VAR Incident That Went Viral
To find a World Cup match with as many dismissals, one has to go back to the famous Portugal vs Netherlands clash at the 2006 tournament. By comparison, only four red cards were shown during the entire 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
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However, it was a VAR-related sequence that truly sparked a flood of reactions across social media. After sending off Themba Zwane following a video review, Wilton Sampaio used the new public-address system introduced for the 2026 World Cup to explain his decision to the crowd.
📹 لقطة اليوم في افتتاح كأس العالم 2026.. موقف محرج يتسبب في سخرية عالمية من الحكم ويلتون سامبايو
تحول الحكم البرازيلي إلى حديث الجماهير ووسائل الإعلام بعد مباراة المكسيك وجنوب إفريقيا.
📌 بعد مراجعة إحدى اللقطات عبر تقنية "الفار"، والتي طُرد خلالها اللاعب سيمبا زواني، استخدم… pic.twitter.com/57JAhXVVZH
— Ali AbouTabl (@AliAbouTabl) June 11, 2026
The problem was that much of his announcement appeared incomprehensible to spectators and even to some players. The Brazilian referee struggled to express himself in English, leaving players visibly puzzled. Within minutes, the footage had spread around the world, triggering countless jokes and comments online, turning Sampaio into one of the unexpected attractions of the tournament’s opening day.
😂🇧🇷 ¡MOMENTAZO EN EL AZTECA!
El árbitro brasileño Wilton Sampaio fue al VAR, confirmó una agresión y tuvo que anunciar la decisión por los altavoces del estadio… pero en inglés la pasó realmente mal. 😅
Su explicación fue tan confusa que varios jugadores sudafricanos se… pic.twitter.com/qZ5DU1iqzA
— Motivaciones Fútbol (@MotivacionesF) June 11, 2026
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