Mexico starlet Gilberto Mora will be 17 years and 240 days old when the 2026 World Cup kicks off, making him the youngest player in the tournament.
The 2026 tournament will feature 22 teenagers, according to the official rosters of the 48 teams published by FIFA.
A record 1,248 players will represent the 48 nations, with Tijuana's teenage midfielder Mora the youngest.
He is in good company. Some famous teenagers have had their breakthrough moment at the World Cup, including Pelé, who became one of soccer's all-time greats.
Pelé was 17 when he helped lead Brazil to the World Cup title in 1958. Kylian Mbappé was 19 when he cemented his superstar credentials by leading France to the World Cup title in 2018.
Two decades earlier, England's Michael Owen had a coming-of-age moment as an 18-year-old at the 1998 World Cup in France.
A few of the latest crop of teenagers have already established themselves with top European clubs, including 18-year-old Lamine Yamal and 19-year-old Pau CubarsÃ, the Spaniards who have been thriving with Barcelona for some time. Germany's 18-year-old Lennart Karl just had his breakthrough season with Bayern Munich.
Other already established players are older than 19 but are set to make their first World Cup appearances, including 20-year-old Warren Zaïre-Emery and 21-year-old Désiré Doué, the France internationals who have been regulars with two-time defending Champions League winner Paris Saint-Germain.
Other 21-year-olds who have been around for some time but will possibly debut at the tournament include England's Nico O'Reilly of Manchester City and Turkey's Arda Güler of Real Madrid. Nico Paz, another 21-year-old, made Argentina's World Cup squad after thriving with Como in the Italian league, helping the club qualify for the Champions League for the first time.
Liga MX player Mora is one of Mexico's most promising prospects in years, and he could become the youngest Mexican player to appear in a World Cup at age 17.
The midfielder has been making waves in Liga MX with Tijuana. He started for the Mexico team that won the Gold Cup in 2025.
In August 2024, he was the youngest to start and score in the Mexican first division at age 15. In January 2025, he was the youngest to debut for Mexico at 16.
Some of the top clubs reportedly scouting the teenager include Real Madrid, Barcelona and some Premier League teams.
Other promising teens at this World Cup include Yan Diomande, Endrick, Ibrahim Mbaye and Kendry Páez.
Diomande, 19, will star for Ivory Coast at the World Cup after impressing with Leipzig in the Bundesliga. Striker Endrick, 19, will have a chance to shine with Brazil after finishing the season well with Lyon in Ligue 1.
The 18-year-old Mbaye became the youngest Senegalese goal scorer in the Africa Cup of Nations earlier this year, helping Senegal reach the final. He was 17 at the time.
And 19-year-old attacking midfielder Páez has been a regular with Ecuador. Chelsea struck a deal in 2023 to sign Páez from Ecuadorean club Independiente del Valle when he turned 18 in 2025. Chelsea loaned him to French club Strasbourg last year, and he is currently playing on loan with Argentine powerhouse River Plate.
Scotland goalkeeper Craig Gordon is set to be the oldest player in the competition, aged 43 years and 162 days.
Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo, 41, is one of seven players aged 40 or over.
Out of the all the players named, 357 have played in at least one World Cup, while 891 will be debutants.
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Ghana's Portuguese tactician Carlos Queiroz, 73, will become the second coach to appear at five straight World Cups after Bora Milutinović (1986-2002).
Former Manchester United manager Queiroz led Portugal in 2010 and Iran in 2014, 2018 and 2022.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
