Published
Jun 12, 2026 at 12:52 AM EDT
Opening day and night of the World Cup has come and gone, and we’ve seen four teams try to get a head start on the rest of the 44 teams on their mission to bring the cup home.
After a red card-filled first game and then an exciting late night special, here are my three stars from Day 1 at the World Cup.
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Bronze: Julián Quiñones (Mexico)
Quiñones was undeniable in the first game against South Africa. His pressure resulted in a massive mistake in the opening 10 minutes from the goalkeeper and defense of the opposing side, leaving Quiñones the prime opportunity to open up the tournament with the first goal. Beyond just his goal, Quiñones was pressing a flatfooted South African side the entire game.
Silver: Hwang In-Beom (South Korea)
The silver star goes to a true journeyman for South Korea in Hwang. He’s played in South Korea, Canada, Serbia, Greece and more before finally landing at Dutch squad Feyenoord. He was immense on the offense and defensive side of the field, touching the ball 93 times, along with his stylish goal to level the game for South Korea.
Gold: Raúl Jiménez (Mexico)
Who else could I give it to on opening day? While the other two players might have had better overall games than the 35-year-old Mexican legend, Jiménez’s goal might be the most important play of the day. Not only was it his first World Cup goal at his fourth tournament, but now the pressure is also fully off the veteran. It might have been his first on Thursday, but don’t be shocked if it isn’t his last before the tournament is over.
