FIFA World Cup 2026: Age demographics set to break historical records
With Cristiano Ronaldo, Guillermo Ochoa, and Tim Ream among the oldest squad members, the 2026 FIFA World Cup is poised to redefine age benchmarks in international football.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is projected to become the oldest tournament in the competition’s history, with at least eight players aged 40 or older expected to feature on the pitch. This demographic shift would surpass the previous record of seven players aged 40 or older who have appeared in World Cup history, a benchmark set during the 2018 edition. No World Cup has previously featured more than one 40-year-old player.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Guillermo Ochoa are set to be in their 40s during the tournament, while Lionel Messi is 38. Uruguay’s Fernando Muslera will celebrate his 40th birthday the day after Uruguay’s opening match against Saudi Arabia on June 15. If selected, Scotland’s Craig Gordon would become the second-oldest player to ever appear in a World Cup, while Ronaldo would be the second-oldest outfield player.
US captain Tim Ream, aged 38, is set to become the oldest player to feature for the United States at a World Cup if he plays against Paraguay on June 12. Ream would become the second-oldest player ever named to a US roster, trailing only Frank Moniz (38 years, 162 days). He would surpass Fernando Clavijo (37 years, 162 days in 1994), who was the oldest player to feature for the US at a World Cup prior to this tournament.
Essam El Hadary holds the record for the oldest player to feature in a World Cup, appearing at 45 years and 161 days old in 2018. The 2026 tournament could see a record eight players 40 or older take the pitch, with at least three players expected to feature for their countries if healthy.
The inclusion of these veteran players highlights a significant shift in the age demographics of international football. The 2026 World Cup is set to be the oldest in history, with at least eight players aged 40 or older expected to feature on the pitch. This would surpass the previous record of seven players aged 40 or older in World Cup history, set in 2018.
