Quinones says Mexico coach ‘got the substitutions wrong’ after World Cup exit

Julian Quinones has questioned Mexico coach Javier Aguirre’s substitutions in their World Cup last‐16 defeat to England, saying “the old man got the changes wrong” after being taken off despite scoring in the 3-2 loss.

The Al‐Qadsiah striker, who finished the 2026 tournament as one of Mexico’s standout performers, broke his silence in a video posted on Instagram, where he appeared visibly surprised by Aguirre’s decision to withdraw him late in the game.

Mexico went out of the World Cup after England came from behind to win their knockout tie, in a match that had showcased Quinones as one of El Tri’s main attacking threats.

‘The old man got the substitutions wrong’

In footage shared on his Instagram account and cited by ESPN, Quinones was filmed chatting with his tattoo artist about the England match when he bluntly criticised the decisions made on the touchline.

Referring to the moment he was replaced, the 29‐year‐old forward said: “Oh yes… the old man got the substitutions wrong.”

Aguirre made the change in the 81st minute, sending on Guillermo Martinez in place of Quinones. The switch sparked widespread anger among Mexican fans, many of whom felt the coach had taken off one of his most dangerous players just as Mexico were chasing the game.

Quinones had opened the scoring for Mexico and continued to trouble England’s defence throughout, extending a strong run of form that had marked him out as a key figure in Mexico’s World Cup campaign.

Record‐equalling tournament for Quinones

Despite Mexico’s elimination, Quinones leaves the tournament having written his name into the country’s World Cup history.

The Saudi Pro League forward scored four goals at the 2026 finals, equalling the national record for most World Cup goals by a Mexican player. That tally matches the mark jointly held by Javier Hernandez and Luis Hernandez.

Quinones also provided one assist, meaning he was directly involved in five goals during the tournament underlining his importance to Aguirre’s side and fuelling the backlash against the decision to remove him at a crucial stage against England.

His performances had been one of the few consistent bright spots for Mexico, who once again fell short of the quarter-finals despite a wave of pre‐tournament optimism.

Pride in first World Cup despite early exit

Quinones, who was playing in his first World Cup after switching allegiance to Mexico, said that, regardless of the disappointment of the defeat, he would leave with his head held high.

He described the experience of representing Mexico on football’s biggest stage as unforgettable, pointing to the passionate backing the team received throughout the tournament.

“كنت متحمسا للغاية باللعب للمنتخب؛ كانت الاجواء جنونية لدرجة اننا لم نكن نستطيع السير في المطار”
(“I was extremely excited to play for the national team; the atmosphere was so crazy that we couldn’t even walk in the airport.”)

The striker’s comments will likely intensify scrutiny on Aguirre, whose tactical calls and in‐game management have come under increasing criticism since Mexico’s exit.

While Quinones did not elaborate further on his relationship with the coach, his blunt assessment of the substitutions has added a new layer to the post‐mortem surrounding Mexico’s World Cup campaign and raised fresh questions over whether Aguirre is the right man to lead the team into the next cycle.