Ahead of Qatar 2022, HITC Football has looked back at who scored the opening goal at the last eight World Cups. In 2006, Philipp Lahm had the honour, whilst some caused surprises.
Qatar will meet Ecuador in the opening game in 2022 hoping to kick off the first World Cup held in the Middle East with a win. The Maroon host La Tri at Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor on November 20 following the opening ceremony. It is the only match played on the first day.
Fifa moved Qatar’s match with Ecuador forward to be a standalone tie to keep the trend of the host nation featuring in the opening game going. The host nation has played in the first game at the last four editions after the defending champions kicked off from 1974 to 2002.
Three of the past four World Cups have seen the host nation win in the opening game with only South Africa in 2010 unable to claim three points. Mexico held Bafana Bafana to a 1-1 draw in Johannesburg. The defending champion only won the first game in 1994 and 1998.
The host nation also scored the opening goal across three of the last four World Cups. Only Brazil have failed to break the deadlock since Fifa allocated the first game to the hosts. The defending champions only scored first three times while they played in the opening match.
So, who scored the opening goal at the last eight World Cups with Qatar 2022 nearly here? HITC Football takes a look back at the first game at each tournament from 1990 until 2018.
Yury Gazinsky scored the opening goal at the 2018 World Cup for Russia
Russia hosted the 2018 World Cup and got off to winning ways against Saudi Arabia at the Luzhniki Stadium. Sbornaya claimed a 5-0 rout in Moscow with Jury Gazinsky breaking the deadlock after only 12 minutes. Saudi Arabia left the midfielder unmarked to head home.
Denis Cheryshev doubled Russia’s lead in the 43rd minute after running through a number of poor tackles. He would strike the back of the net again in the 91st minute after Artem Dzyuba headed in. Aleksandr Golovin’s 94th-minute free-kick would round out the scoring.
Russia would go on to finish second to Uruguay in Group A after beating Egypt 3-1 before a 3-0 defeat to La Celeste. Sbornaya’s journey also continued with a Round of 16 win against Spain on penalties. But Croatia ended their tournament in the quarter-finals on penalties.
Marcelo scored an own goal in the opening game at the 2014 World Cup
Brazil hosted the last World Cup in South America in 2014 and met Croatia in the opening game. But the Selecao could not celebrate the tournament by breaking the deadlock after left-back Marcelo put the ball in his own net in the 12th minute at the Arena de Sao Paulo.
Neymar would draw Brazil level approaching the half-hour mark before putting Luiz Felipe Scolari’s side ahead in the second half. The winger converted from the penalty spot in the 71st minute, before midfielder Oscar put the game to bed come stoppage time to win 3-1.
Brazil would go on to draw 0-0 with Mexico before beating Cameroon 4-1 to top Group A. Their reward was a Round of 16 tie against Chile, yet could only beat their South American rival on penalties. Germany also humbled Brazil 7-1 come the semi-final in Belo Horizonte.
Siphiwe Tshabalala broke the deadlock for South Africa vs Mexico in 2010
Fifa took the World Cup to Africa for the first time in 2010 as the football family flew down to South Africa. The tournament was cause for the whole of Africa to celebrate and Bafana Bafana gave the continent further reason to cheer after 55 minutes as they went in front.
Siphiwe Tshabalala sent the Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg into delirium as his shot flew into the top corner. The winger rounded off a dream counter-attack for South Africa. But Mexico would spoil the party 11 minutes from time as Rafael Marquez hit an equaliser.
Marquez’s goal held South Africa to a 1-1 draw with Mexico, before Bafana Bafana lost 3-0 to Uruguay but beat France 2-1 to end Group A in third. Their win over Les Bleus also sent the 2018 World Cup winners home in last place, while Uruguay led the division to Mexico.
Philipp Lahm scored the opening goal for Germany at the 2006 World Cup
Lahm scored the opening goal at the 2006 World Cup as Germany began their tournament on home soil by beating Costa Rica 4-2. Die Mannschaft would go on to end Group A with three wins in three games after claiming a 1-0 win over Poland before beating Ecuador 3-0.
Germany continued their tournament by overcoming Sweden 2-0 in the Round of 16, while besting Argentina 4-2 on penalties in the quarter-final after a 1-1 draw. Yet Italy would put an end to the host nation’s path in the semi-finals before edging France to secure the title.
Papa Bouba Diop stunned France as Senegal opened the 2002 edition
France arrived at the 2002 World Cup in South Korea and Japan as the reigning champions. But Les Bleus could not repeat their 1998 performances at the first World Cup held in Asia. Instead, Senegal stunned Roger Lemerre’s men to claim a 1-0 opening fixture win in Seoul.
Papa Bouba Diop broke the deadlock for Senegal on the stroke of half an hour and France could not find a response. Les Bleus continued to falter throughout Group A and ultimately returned to Europe in last place. Senegal finished second and made it to the quarter-finals.
Cesar Sampaio scored against Scotland to kick off the 1998 World Cup
Brazil opened the 1998 World Cup at the Stade de France after arriving in Europe as the reigning champions. Scotland posed the first threat to the Selecao’s title defence, but the Tartan Army would eventually hand the South American nation all three points in Paris.
Cesar Sampaio broke the deadlock for Brazil in just the fifth minute, but John Collins struck from the penalty spot seven minutes before the break. Neither team could find a go-ahead goal early in the second half, but Tom Boyd gifted Brazil a win with a quarter of an hour left.
Brazil took full advantage of Scotland’s gift to go on and win Group A by just one point to Norway. The Tartan Army finished the first round in last place, taking their only point with a 1-1 draw with Norway. Scotland’s help meant Brazil met Chile in the last 16 and won 4-1.
The Selecao continued their way through the 1998 World Cup with wins over Denmark and the Netherlands. But after pipping the Dutch on penalties, Brazil fell to their first defeat in the final when they met France. The host nation lifted their maiden title with a 3-0 victory.
Jurgen Klinsmann inspired Germany to beat Bolivia at the 1994 edition
Germany flew across the pond looking to defend their third of four World Cup titles in the United States of America in 1994. Die Mannschaft had swept the gong in 1990, but would exit the 15th edition of the Fifa tournament in the quarter-final after losing 2-1 to Bulgaria.
Jurgen Klinsmann had got Germany’s title defence off to the perfect start by inspiring a 1-0 win over Bolivia. The striker scored the opening goal at the 1994 World Cup on 61 minutes at Soldier Field in Chicago. Yet boss Berti Vogts’ men could not maintain their momentum.
Francois Omam-Biyik hit home as Cameroon beat Argentina at Italia 90
Francois Omam-Biyik hit home as Cameroon stunned Argentina to win the opening game at the 1990 World Cup. Diego Maradona captained Carlos Bilardo’s side, but he could not inspire La Albiceleste to a win as Omam-Biyik hit the only goal of the game on 67 minutes.
Cameroon would go on to win Group B over Romania and Argentina, but all three reached the knockout stages. Les Lions Indomptables also continued their run by beating Colombia in the Round of 16, but then fell at the hands of England after extra time in the quarter-final.
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