Mexico forward Julian Quinones recreated Siphiwe Tshabalala’s famous World Cup celebration after scoring in his side’s 2-0 victory over South Africa in the opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Quiñones opened the scoring at the Estadio Azteca before breaking into the same dance that Tshabalala performed after netting one of the most iconic goals in World Cup history during the 2010 tournament in Johannesburg.
Sixteen years ago, Tshabalala thrilled a packed Soccer City crowd by firing South Africa into the lead against Mexico in the tournament opener. Although Rafael Marquez later equalised in a 1-1 draw, the winger’s powerful finish and memorable celebration became enduring images of the World Cup.
Quinones’ decision to recreate the dance against the same opponents quickly became one of the talking points of the opening night in Mexico City.
Julian Quiñones setelah cetak gol lawan Afrika Selatan, langsung joget tarian khas yang pernah “menggoyang” Meksiko di Piala Dunia 2010 ð¤£
ð¥: alejandro.montesr pic.twitter.com/WQEMBkelfY
â Suporter Media (@suporter_media) June 12, 2026
The celebration sparked mixed reactions on social media. While many supporters viewed it as a respectful nod to one of the tournament’s most unforgettable moments, others interpreted it as a dig at South Africa following Bafana Bafana’s defeat.
Neither Quinones nor the Mexican Football Federation has commented publicly on the inspiration behind the celebration.
Canelo Alvarez handing Julian Quiñones the Player of the Match award after today’s match.
Game recognizes game. â¤ï¸ð¤ð¼ð¥ pic.twitter.com/r92Phf7jgF
â All Fútbol MX ð²ð½ (@AllFutbolMX) June 11, 2026
Mexico went on to secure a comfortable 2-0 victory to make a winning start to the first 48-team FIFA World Cup, while South Africa will now turn their attention to their second Group A match against South Korea as they seek to revive their campaign.