It’s just minutes into the FIFA World Cup 2026, and Julian Quinones is already a legend in football. The Mexico striker opened the scoring against South Africa in the ninth minute to complete the goalscoring saga of a World Cup. This is not the only exclusive club that Quinones is in, however.
There has always been at least one player who has scored the first goal in every FIFA World Cup.In each FIFA World Cup, there has been at least one player who has scored the first goal, making this a significant moment in football history. The thing they have in common is that they have been appointed the new hero of Mexico when they were just 16, and it will never disappear. ([Guinness World Records][1])
Quinones capitalized on a South African error deep in their own half, in a packed Mexico City Stadium. Goalkeeper Ronwen Williams was in a rush to get away from his goal and the striker was cool as a cucumber and slotted home. Mexican fans went wild when their teammates ran toward him knowing that they had just witnessed a historic moment.
Not only did the goal give Mexico an early lead, it was also a remarkable addition to a World Cup timeline for Quinones. The tournament has already produced some of the football world’s best goal scorers. The first goal of the 1966 World Cup was tied by Brazilian legend Pelé and Lucien Laurent did the same during France’s 1930 World Cup debut against Mexico. ([AS USA][2])
Players who scored the first goal in a World Cup tournament.The first goal scorers in the history of the FIFA World Cup.
| World Cup | First Goalscorer | |
|---|---|---|
| 1930 | Lucien Laurent (France) | |
| 1934 | Ernesto Belis (Argentina) | |
| 1938 | Josef Gauchel (Germany) | |
| 1950 | Ademir de Menezes (Brazil) | |
| 1954 | Miloš Milutinović (Yugoslavia) | |
| 1958 | Oreste Corbatta (Argentina) | |
| 1962 | Héctor Facundo (Argentina) | |
| 1966 | Pelé (Brazil) | |
| 2026 | Julian Quinones (Mexico) | ([AS USA][2]) |
The meaning is more than the score for Quinones. The name of a player who will lift the World Cup trophy, or not, will be forever linked to the opening chapter of FIFA World Cup 2026 long after the final whistle of the tournament.
The World Cup has given rise to legacies, memorable games and memorable goals. The first one was given by Julian Quinones at opening night in Mexico City. Like Lucien Laurent before him, Pelé and others, has his name now become a part of the tournament’s history books.
Julian Quinones netted the opening goal of FIFA World Cup 2026 for Mexico. How does he become one of a tightly-guarded list of World Cup opening goal scorers?
Prior to that, the first football (soccer) FIFA World Cup goal was recorded.Before this, the first football (soccer) FIFA World Cup goal was recorded.
The exclusive club of players who scored the first goal in every world cup.The world cup exclusive club of players who scored in the opening goal.
