Mexico's Julián Quiñones scores first goal of 2026 World Cup

Julián Quiñones, a naturalized forward originally from Colombia, etched his name in history by scoring the inaugural goal of the 2026 North, Central, and Caribbean World Cup. The striker found the back of the net in the 9th minute of the opening match, held on June 12 (Korean time) at the Mexico City Stadium.

Quiñones, who became a Mexican citizen in 2023, has a notable scoring record. He was the top scorer in the Saudi Professional League for the 2025-2026 season, outscoring Cristiano Ronaldo. His goal in the World Cup opener against South Africa is a significant moment for the host nation.

The match itself is a significant fixture, marking a rematch of the 2010 World Cup opening game, which ended in a 1-1 draw. Mexico is currently leading South Africa 1-0 at halftime, thanks to Quiñones' early strike. This result is particularly important as Mexico prepares for its next group stage matches against South Korea on June 19 and South Africa again on June 25.