Mexico kicked off the FIFA World Cup 2026 with a commanding 2-0 victory over South Africa at the iconic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, and it was winger Julián Quiñones who lit the fuse. His early strike not only set Mexico on their way but rewrote the history books in the process.
A Goal 96 Years in the Making
Quiñones broke the deadlock in just the 8th minute, pouncing on a defensive error from South Africa before firing a powerful shot from outside the box into the back of the net. The goal made him the first player from a North American nation ever to score the opening goal of a FIFA World Cup edition — a record that had stood untouched since the tournament’s first edition in 1930. Mexico had featured in opening World Cup matches three previous times — in 1930, 1950, and 2010 — but had never managed to score the tournament’s first goal on any of those occasions.
Shattering Philipp Lahm’s Long-Standing Record
The timing of the goal added another milestone to Quiñones’ remarkable evening. His 8th-minute strike is now officially the fastest opening goal in World Cup history, surpassing the record held by German legend Philipp Lahm, who had scored in the 11th minute against Costa Rica to open the 2006 tournament.
Quiñones arrived at the World Cup in blistering form, having finished as the top scorer of the Saudi Pro League 2025/26 season with an extraordinary 33 goals in 31 games for Al Qadsiah — a tally that even eclipsed Cristiano Ronaldo’s output this season. His World Cup debut proved he was more than ready for football’s grandest stage.