Who are the oldest and youngest players at the 2026 World Cup?
The oldest player at the 2026 World Cup is Scotland goalkeeper Craig Gordon, 43, born December 31, 1982. The youngest is Mexico midfielder Gilberto Mora, 17, born October 14, 2008 — the only 17-year-old at the tournament. The two are separated by roughly 26 years, almost a full generation.
- 1Oldest player: Scotland goalkeeper Craig Gordon, 43, born December 31, 1982, named in Scotland's squad for their first World Cup since 1998[1]
- 2Youngest player: Mexico attacking midfielder Gilberto Mora, 17, born October 14, 2008, also the youngest player ever to represent Mexico at a World Cup[2]
- 3Mora is the only 17-year-old at the tournament[2]
- 4The age gap between the two is about 26 years[1]
The 2026 World Cup spans almost three full generations of players, from a teenager born in 2008 to a goalkeeper born in 1982.
Who is the oldest player?
Craig Gordon, Scotland's 43-year-old goalkeeper, is the oldest player at the 2026 World Cup. Born on December 31, 1982, he earned a place in Scotland's 26-man squad for their first World Cup since 1998 — a comeback story for a keeper who overcame a serious double leg-break earlier in his career.
Who is the youngest player?
Gilberto Mora, a 17-year-old attacking midfielder for Mexico, is the youngest player at the tournament. Born on October 14, 2008, he is the only 17-year-old in any 2026 squad and the youngest footballer ever to represent Mexico at a World Cup, having broken into the senior side as a teenage prospect.
How big is the age gap?
About 26 years separate them. When Gordon made his professional debut, Mora had not yet been born — the goalkeeper had already been playing top-level soccer for years before the midfielder arrived in 2008. It is one of the widest old-to-young spans the tournament has seen.
Why do teams pick players this old or this young?
Goalkeepers age differently from outfield players: the position relies on reflexes, positioning and experience rather than sprinting, so a 43-year-old like Gordon can still compete at the top. Teenagers like Mora make it on raw talent, when a player is so good that age stops being a barrier.
Think of Craig Gordon as soccer's version of a 40-something NFL quarterback like Tom Brady — a position (goalkeeper) where smarts and experience can outlast fading athleticism, letting a player keep going long after teammates retire. Gilberto Mora is closer to a teenage MLB or NBA phenom drafted straight out of high school: a prospect so talented that the team brings him to the biggest stage years earlier than usual.
Key Takeaways
- The oldest player at the 2026 World Cup is Scotland's 43-year-old goalkeeper Craig Gordon; the youngest is Mexico's 17-year-old Gilberto Mora.
- Roughly 26 years separate them — Gordon was a professional for years before Mora was even born.
- ESPN — 'My Scotland career was over': Craig Gordon on journey from double leg-break to 2026 World Cup's oldest player(accessed 2026-06-17)
- FIFA — World Cup Wonderkids: Gilberto Mora, Mexico(accessed 2026-06-17)