South Africa's Sphephelo Sithole Creates Unwanted Record, Becomes 1st Player In The World To...

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Last Updated:June 12, 2026, 01:59 IST

Sphephelo Sithole was sent off in the 49th minute for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity after bringing down a Mexican player just outside the penalty area.

South African midfielder Sphephelo Sithole entered his name in the history books on Thursday (June 11) by becoming the first player ever to receive a straight red card in the opening match of a FIFA World Cup. The 27-year-old was sent off in the 49th minute for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity after bringing down a Mexican player just outside the penalty area.

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About the Author

Harshit BishtSenior Sub-editor

Harshit Bisht is a sports journalist with CNN-News18 since July 1, 2024, and covers cricket with a sharp eye for records, trends, and match analysis. Based in Noida, he has reported extensively on the...Read More

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