The Oldest and Youngest Footballers in the World Cup
Cristiano Ronaldo, Craig Gordon, and Gilberto Mora.
As the 2026 FIFA World Cup approaches, attention is increasingly focused on the contrasting ages of players set to participate—ranging from seasoned veterans to emerging teenage talents.
Oldest players in the World Cup
The oldest player expected to feature in the tournament is Scotland’s goalkeeper Craig Gordon, who will be 43 years and 162 days old on the opening day.
Closely following him is Portugal’s superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, who will take part in his sixth World Cup at the age of 41 years and 126 days.
Other players aged 40 or above include Mexico’s goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa (40 years, 333 days), Croatia’s midfielder Luka Modrić (40 years, 275 days), Bosnia and Herzegovina striker Edin Džeko (40 years, 86 days), and Germany’s goalkeeper Manuel Neuer (40 years, 76 days).
Youngest player in the tournament
The youngest player in this World Cup will be Mexico’s midfielder Gilberto Mora, who will be just 17 years and 240 days old on the opening day of the competition. He will not turn 18 until October.
Other young prospects include Czech Republic midfielder Hugo Sochurek (17 years old) and Bayern Munich’s German talent Lennart Karl (18 years, 109 days), both expected to showcase their potential on the global stage.
Youthful squads
Ivory Coast will field the youngest squad in the tournament, with an average age of just 25 years and 310 days. Their young attackers, including 19-year-old Yan Diomande and 20-year-old Bazoumana Touré, are already attracting attention from major European clubs.
Reigning European champions Spain also boast a youthful squad with an average age of 26 years and 273 days, featuring rising stars such as Lamine Yamal (18) and Pau Cubarsí (19), further strengthening their youthful core.
Other young squads include Ecuador (26 years and 28 days) and Morocco (26 years and 144 days), both among the most youth-oriented teams in the tournament.
