Mexico's Julián Quiñones scores first goal of 2026 World Cup

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Mexico's Julián Quiñones scored the opening goal of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, finding the net in the ninth minute of the host country's Group Stage match against South Africa at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City on Thursday evening. The goal made Quiñones the first scorer of the tournament. Quiñones's early strike set the tone for Mexico's first match of the expanded 48-team World Cup, which is being co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada. The Azteca Stadium, one of the historic venues of the tournament, hosted the opening fixture. Mexico and South Africa are joined in the group by South Korea and the Czech Republic, with the match between those two sides scheduled for Friday. The 2026 edition is the largest World Cup in the tournament's history, featuring 48 teams for the first time.