FIFA World Cup 2026: Opportunity for More Mature Players to Shine

In the 96-year history of the World Cup, only seven players aged 40 and above have participated so far, but this year, the possibility of adding a minimum of five more players to that list exists. Egypt's Essam El Hadary, known for his remarkable performance in the 2018 World Cup at the age of 45 years and 161 days, leads the group of experienced players set to take part in the tournament. In a match against Saudi Arabia in the group stage, goalkeeper El Hadary surpassed his own record by more than two years, despite Egypt's 2-1 defeat. The top-ranked mature players, all aged over 39.5 years, include El Hadary, Farid Mondragon, Roger Milla, and Pat Jennings, with only El Hadary, Mondragon, Milla, and Jennings having participated in a World Cup at the age of 41 or older. Among the players expected to participate in this year's World Cup, Scotland's goalkeeper Craig Gordon is the oldest at 43 years old, as Scotland returns to the World Cup after 28 years. If Gordon gets the chance to play, he will become the second oldest player in World Cup history. With the opportunity to play in this year's tournament, Gordon could make history as the second oldest player in the World Cup, adding a positive and inspirational narrative to the competition.