FIFA World Cup 2026: The historic, expanded FIFA World Cup 2026 has officially kicked off at the iconic Mexico City Stadium (Estadio Azteca) on 11th June. Just eight minutes into the tournament, the first moment of pure magic came in the deafening wall of green noise generated by passionate home support. Striker Julián Quiñones went into football folklore as he netted the opening goal of the tournament to give co-hosts Mexico an early 1-0 lead over South Africa.
The explosive beginning has put the global spotlight immediately on Mexico’s clinical forward. As Quiñones is now sending El Tri fans into a frenzy, his path to this historic World Cup opening goal is a story of cross-continental resilience and naturalisation unlike any other.
From Colombia U20 to Mexico Main Man
Quiñones, born on March 24, 1997 in the remote town of Magüí Payán in Colombia’s Nariño region, didn’t actually start his football journey under the Mexican flag. He was heavily involved in the Colombian setup as a youth prospect, featuring prominently for the Colombia Under-20 national team early in his development.
Julián Quiñones scores our third fastest goal in a World Cup! 💚🇲🇽
It makes all Mexico erupted! 👏😀⚽
🇲🇽 1-0 🇿🇦#SomosMéxico | #FWC26 | #J1 | #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/PEaEICK25O
— Mexican National Team (@miseleccionmxEN) June 11, 2026
His professional career however changed completely when he moved north to Mexico in 2015 and joined the academy system of Tigres UANL. Quiñones spent years dominating the local landscape with regular doses of immense pace, physical strength and a clinical eye for goal. He developed into a true Liga MX star, playing a key role in back-to-back league titles with Atlas FC before moving to traditional power Club América, where he added more domestic silverware. Quiñones’ formative professional years were spent in the country, completing his naturalisation process to officially switch his international soccer allegiance to Mexico.
🔥 HALF-TIME IN GROUP A! 🔥
🇲🇽 Mexico 1-0 South Africa 🇿🇦
⚽ GOAL! Julián Quiñones breaks the deadlock with a stunning finish to put El Tri in front!
A costly mistake from South Africa was punished in ruthless fashion, and Mexico made it count with an incredible goal. 🌪️🔥… pic.twitter.com/QViwgMhWXM
— Olisa Kingsley (@OlisaKingsley) June 11, 2026
Making His Name In The World Stage
Quiñones came to the 2026 FIFA World Cup on the absolute back of a blistering run of individual club form. The forward made a cash move to Saudi Pro League side Al-Qadsiah in 2024. The forward, who was a dynamic in the recently concluded 2025-26 club season in the Middle East, has announced himself to the world stage.
Known as “The Jaguar,” Quiñones put together a masterclass of a campaign, netting a jaw-dropping 33 goals in only 31 league games to win the Saudi Pro League Golden Boot, outscoring the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo in the process.
His quick reflexes showed in the opening minutes against South Africa’s Bafana Bafana was a glimpse of how agile he is. In build-up to the goal, Quiñones aggressively pounces on a mistake in the South African backline, calmly strokes the ball through the legs of the advancing goalkeeper and sends the crowd into raptures. The 29-year-old, adopted hero of Mexico has fully earned his nation’s faith on the biggest stage possible.
