Quinones is the first Mexican to score an opening goal at the global showpiece
No team that has scored the opening goal has gone on to lift the trophy
The quickest opener came in 1978, courtesy of Bernard Lacombe
The first goal at a FIFA World Cup™ resonates well beyond the immediate result. It is the moment the tournament properly comes to life, when one player – plucked from a cast of hundreds – takes centre stage, briefly the undisputed star of the most watched sporting spectacle on earth.
This is a roll call of those fleeting protagonists: from Lucien Laurent, who wrote the opening line , to the most recent addition, , whose goal at the .
Laurent etched his name into history by striking the first goal at FIFA’s flagship men’s tournament, finding the net in the 19th minute as France swept aside Mexico.
Barely four minutes had elapsed when Belis put La Albiceleste in front, only for Sweden to recover and turn the tie on its head to progress.
Gauchel broke the deadlock in the 23rd minute, but Switzerland then drew level and ultimately went through to the next round after winning the replay 4-2.
At a heaving Maracana stadium, Ademir provided the tournament’s first breakthrough on the half-hour, setting Brazil on course for a commanding win.
With four matches kicking off simultaneously to mark the start of the tournament, it was Milutinovic who drew first blood after 15 minutes, his goal proving decisive in the narrow victory over France.
Sweden 3-0 Mexico The hosts wasted little time in asserting themselves; Simonsson fired them ahead in the 17th minute to set the tone for victory.
In a repeat of the 1954 instalment, the opening day featured four matches played simultaneously. The Argentinian Facundo struck first, needing just four minutes to settle the contest.
After the goalless curtain-raiser between England and Uruguay, Brazil’s Pele provided the tournament’s first goal with a rasping free kick in the 15th minute.
Dermendzhiev opened the scoring in the 13th minute with a finely worked move on the edge of the box to put Bulgaria in front early on, though Peru rallied to claim the spoils and secured their first-ever World Cup victory.
With the defending champions now opening proceedings, the tournament began in subdued fashion as Brazil’s meeting with Yugoslavia finished goalless. West Germany’s Breitner supplied the breakthrough in the 18th minute with a powerful effort that proved enough to separate the sides.
After an opening stalemate, Lacombe needed barely a minute to head home the first goal of the global showpiece and put France in front, though Italy had the final say.
Belgium stunned the reigning champions when Vandenbergh’s composed finish in the 62nd minute sealed the Europeans’ victory.
Altobelli ghosted in before half-time to turn home a cross and register the tournament’s first strike, though Bulgaria equalised in the final moments.
One of the biggest upsets in FIFA World Cup history began with Omam-Biyik’s second-half header, which proved enough to topple defending champions Argentina.
Klinsmann was on hand to convert from close range in the 61st minute against Bolivia, getting Germany up and running with the competition’s opening goal.
Sampaio wasted little time to make his mark. He scored from the corner inside five minutes to hand Brazil an early advantage.
Bouba Diop pounced in the 30th minute to hand Senegal a stunning lead. The nation’s first-ever goal at the FIFA World Cup would secure a seismic victory.
Lahm bent in a superb effort inside six minutes, igniting the tournament with a goal of real quality.
In the first FIFA World Cup held on African soil, Tshabalala lit up Soccer City in Johannesburg, thundering home a left-footed strike in the 55th minute and sending the home crowd into rapture.
Marcelo, the legendary Brazilian left-back, became the first player to kick off the competition with an own goal, handing Croatia an early lead before the hosts recovered.
Gazinsky got the hosts off to a flying start; his clinical header in the 12th minute set Russia on their way to an emphatic opening-night win.
Valencia coolly converted from the spot in the 16th minute to open the scoring and seal the first-ever defeat for a host nation in an opening match of the FIFA World Cup.
Quinones applied the finishing touch in the ninth minute, capping sustained pressure with a composed effort to get the tournament under way.
Sources: FIFA Official
