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Former Manchester United teammates Gary Neville and Roy Keane took just 45 minutes to have their first disagreement of the World Cup.
Julian Quinones of Mexico scored the first goal of World Cup 2026, capitalising on a loose touch from South Africa midfielder Yaya Sithole or a poor decision from goalkeeper Ronwen Williams, depending on your point of view.
There was certainly no consensus on the terrace of ITV's loft studio in New York, where Neville was frustrated by the dissent of Keane and ex-England striker Ian Wright over where the blame belonged.
'We've got six more weeks of this!' – Gary Neville and Roy Keane clash
Goalkeeper Williams played a straight pass into the feet of Sithole, who fell foul of Mexico's press. The ball was quickly in the back of the net courtesy of Quinones, whose shot squeezed through Williams' legs.
When the ITV panel returned from a commercial break at half time, with the scoreline still at 1-0 to Mexico, presenter Mark Pougatch promised a debate. "I'm going to watch the boats out there," he said, casting his eye towards the East River.
"To me it's on the goalkeeper," said Keane. "It's 100% on the goalkeeper. Yeah, you've got a midfielder showing for it. To me the midfielder's too straight. The goalkeeper's got better options.
"Okay, it's a bad touch. You're nine minutes into the game. Guess what, Mexico are obviously going to pressure you.
"You look at the options. He can go left, he can go right. And the midfielder's just showing for it [but] the goalkeeper's got to go left or right. Or he can go long. The pass is too straight so you know he has to take a touch.
"If you lose the ball there, you're going to be punished."
Keane's ex-United colleague explained that he expected more from Sithole when he received the ball, blaming the Tondela midfielder for getting caught out."
"I think that's the simplest thing in the world for any midfield player just to take a touch and play it out to the right centre-back," argued Neville. "We see that week in and week out.
"I give up a little bit, saying 'knock it long' in 2026. They're not going to do that anymore. I just think it's a shocking touch from the midfield player."
More debate followed with occasional prods from the presenter. Wright weighed in to support Keane's position, which was ultimately more about the fact that the risk was taken nine minutes into a World Cup than strictly a tactical matter.
"To me, he's taken a chance passing it there because if he does get a bad touch there, that's what can happen, Gary," offered the Gunners legend.
"There's 48 teams in this tournament and 48 coaches, and most of them will be setting up their teams to play that little pass in there, bounce it back to their goalkeeper or bounce it out to the right-centre back," said Neville, whose eyes were directed to the skies as Keane interrupted him.
"No, Gary, they won't," said Keane.
Pougatch's summary? "We've got six more weeks of this. Don't go too early."
What did you make of Mexico's first goal of World Cup 2026? Are you with Keane and Wright or Neville? Let us know below...
