Scoring the first goal of a World Cup is making sure that your name is inscribed alongside other soccer figures who also achieved it, such as Pele In 1966, Jürgen Klinsmann In 1994, Philipp Lahm in 2006, Marcelo in 2014 and Enner Valencia in 2022, among other protagonists in the history of the World Cups.
That’s what he got Julian Quiñones this June 11 when he scored the first goal of the World Cup 2026 at minute 9 of the opening match between Mexico and South Africa at the Mexico City Stadium, since the score represented goal number 2 thousand 721 in the history of the tournament, according to figures from the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA).
The naturalized Mexican Colombian soccer player, who plays as a center forward and plays in the Al-Qadisiyah Football Club of the Saudi Pro League, took advantage of a quick recovery of the ball near the rival area, after an error in the start of South Africa, and connected a forehand who led his team 1-0 in front of more than 87 thousand spectators.
“We are very happy. A few days ago people showed us their support and today we have partially reciprocated that trustbut we want more,” declared the attacker born 29 years ago in the south of Colombiawho obtained Mexican nationality in October 2023, so this is his first World Cup with the national team. Mexico.
Who is Julián Quiñones?
The one born on March 24, 1997 in the Colombian municipality of Magüí Payán, Nariñobecame the author of the first goal of the edition 23 of the World Cup, a score that led the Mexican team to a 2-0 victory over South Africa, so the striker celebrated this collective successalthough he assured that he wants more.
“We have to press more to the rival. It is a foundation that we are going to work to avoid freedoms“, declared striker Julián Quiñones at the end of the first match of Group A between the teams of South Korea and the Czech Republic, since the Mexican team hopes to finish in first position and advance to the sixteenths at the end.
The top gunner of the Saudi League with Al Qadisiyah, with 33 goals, he scored in the 9th minute of the opening match at the Mexico City Stadium, where the versatile player’s shot filtered between the legs of goalkeeper Ronwen Williams and It revived the enthusiasm of millions of Mexicans who hope to see their team in the semifinals of the tournament.
Therefore, the former Tigres de la UANL player stated that the team led by Mexican coach Javier Aguirre must focus in the coming days on working more on “the pressure” to win the three group stage matches and secure first place, with the aim of avoiding the biggest rivals. strong of the World Cup in the next round.
From Colombia to Mexico
According to what was stated by the BBC, Julian Quiñones He went from playing barefoot and hidden from his parents in his native Colombia to naturalizing as a Mexican and becoming the first scorer in the 2026 World Cup. However, it was in Fútbol Paz, a team of Caliwhere he began to stand out and attract the attention of international observers.
The footballer signed for the lower categories of Tigers in 2015, after observers detected it in a tournament under-17 in Colombia. There they identified the characteristics that continue to define the attacker: physical power, speed, dribbling and goal. He later obtained the Mexican nationality and debuted with El Tri in the 2024.
THE FIRST GOAL OF THE WORLD CUP IS FROM MX ⚽🇲🇽
This is how Julián Quiñones celebrated Mexico’s 1-0 win against South Africa and the first goal of the entire World Cup. pic.twitter.com/fXj0CmQgDd
— Raúl (@RRR17G) June 11, 2026