Mexico’s Julian Quinones Scores 2026 World Cup Opener, but It’s Not the Fastest First Goal Ever
Julian Quinones, the 29-year-old Mexico midfielder who plays for Al-Qadsiah in Saudi Arabia, made World Cup history on Thursday by scoring the first goal of the 2026 tournament in Mexico’s 2-0 win over South Africa. He capitalized on a high press and a defensive mistake, took control of a clearance by Eric Lima near the box, and finished in the 9th minute of the opening match.
Quinones finished last season as the Saudi league’s top scorer with 33 goals in 2025/26. It was also the first time a player from CONCACAF scored the opening goal of a World Cup. Born and raised in Colombia, he moved to Tigres’ youth system in Mexico at a young age, declined a Colombia call-up in May 2023, and debuted for Mexico in November 2023. Before joining Al-Qadsiah in 2024 for an estimated $16 million, he played for Atlas and Club America.
The article notes that while Quinones’ strike was quick, it was not the fastest opener in World Cup history. That record belongs to Argentina’s Orestes Corbatta, who scored after three minutes against West Germany in 1958. Other early openers mentioned include Ernsto Blis in 1934, Hector Facundo in 1962, Cesar Sampaio in 1998, and Bernard Lacombe’s 36-second goal in 1978.
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