Julian Quiñones etched his name into football history by scoring the first goal of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, finding the net for Mexico against South Africa at Mexico City Stadium.

The strike gave Mexico an early advantage in the tournament opener, setting the tone for what promises to be a landmark edition of the competition — the first to be co-hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

South Africa, representing the continent in front of a passionate crowd, faced an immediate challenge as Quiñones struck to put the host nation ahead and send Mexico City Stadium into a frenzy.