The oldest player at the 2026 World Cup
The oldest player at the 2026 FIFA World Cup is Scotland goalkeeper Craig Gordon, who is 43 years old.
According to ESPN, he is the eldest of the 1,248 players selected across all 48 squads.
Craig Gordon turned 43 on 31 December 2025, which makes him the oldest player at this World Cup by a clear margin.
ESPN reports he is two years and 36 days older than the second-oldest player, Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo.
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A few quick facts on Craig Gordon:
- Born: 31 December 1982, in Edinburgh, Scotland.
- Club: Heart of Midlothian.
- Position: Goalkeeper.
- International caps: 80-plus, making him Scotland’s oldest-ever international, per ESPN.
- Record: The oldest European player to feature in a World Cup qualifier, breaking a 68-year mark held by Sir Stanley Matthews.
Gordon is a veteran Scotland goalkeeper whose career survived a string of serious injuries, including a double leg fracture.
He told ESPN he had considered his international career over in 2024 before an unexpected recall.
His comeback peaked in November 2025, when Scotland beat Denmark to qualify for the World Cup for the first time in 28 years.
Scotland’s place in the squad list mirrors history. The last time the country reached a World Cup, in France 1998, goalkeeper Jim Leighton was also the tournament’s oldest player at 39.
Is he the oldest World Cup players ever?
Gordon would not break the all-time record even if he plays a single minute.
That record belongs to Egypt goalkeeper Essam El-Hadary, who was 45 years and 161 days old when he played against Saudi Arabia at Russia 2018.
At 43 years and 162 days, an appearance would make Gordon the second-oldest player ever to feature at a World Cup, ahead of Colombia’s Faryd Mondragon.
The oldest players to appear at a World Cup, per Opta Analyst, are:
| Player | Country | Age |
|---|---|---|
| Essam El-Hadary | Egypt | 45y 161d |
| Faryd Mondragon | Colombia | 43y 3d |
| Roger Milla | Cameroon | 42y 39d |
| Pat Jennings | Northern Ireland | 41y 0d |
| Peter Shilton | England | 40y 292d |
| Dino Zoff | Italy | 40y 133d |
The other 40-somethings at the 2026 World Cup
Seven players aged 40 or older were named in squads for this tournament, according to Yahoo Sports. Goalkeepers dominate the list, since they tend to play on longer than outfield players.
The most notable veterans at the 2026 World Cup are:
| Player | Age | Country | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Craig Gordon | 43 | Scotland | Goalkeeper and the oldest player at the tournament. |
| Cristiano Ronaldo | 41 | Portugal | The second-oldest player and the oldest outfield player, with Portugal at his sixth World Cup. |
| Luka Modric | 40 | Croatia | Midfield captain, per Yahoo Sports. |
| Guillermo Ochoa | 40 | Mexico | Long-serving goalkeeper. |
| Manuel Neuer | 40 | Germany | Goalkeeper, who became the seventh-oldest player ever to feature at a World Cup, according to Vanguard. |
| Vozinha | 40 | Cape Verde | Goalkeeper, one of the debutant nation’s standout names. |
| Fernando Muslera | 40 | Uruguay | The veteran goalkeeper of Uruguay. |
Whether Gordon makes the list depends on game time.
Head coach Steve Clarke named Angus Gunn as Scotland’s number one, and Gunn started the opening 1-0 win over Haiti with Gordon on the bench, so as of 17 June 2026 Gordon is yet to feature, per ESPN.
Where to catch the veterans live
The 2026 World Cup runs until 19 July across the United States, Canada and Mexico, so fans have plenty of host cities to plan around. The final is at New York/New Jersey, per the Sky Sports schedule.
If you want to see the older names in action, here is where to start:
- Craig Gordon’s Scotland: Group games in Boston and Miami — search for hotels in Boston near the stadium.
- Ronaldo’s Portugal and Neuer’s Germany: Matches spread across major US host cities, including Miami and Atlanta.
- Ochoa’s Mexico: Group games hosted in Mexico City, with hotels in Mexico City filling fast.
- The final: Played at New York/New Jersey — plan flights to the New York area early.
You can compare fares and track flight availability to any host city on Wego before you book.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the oldest player at the 2026 World Cup?
Scotland goalkeeper Craig Gordon, aged 43. He is the oldest of the 1,248 players selected across the 48 squads.
Who is the oldest outfield player at the 2026 World Cup?
Cristiano Ronaldo, aged 41, with Portugal. He is also the second-oldest player overall, behind Craig Gordon.
Who is the oldest player in World Cup history?
Egypt goalkeeper Essam El-Hadary, who played at 45 years and 161 days during Russia 2018. That record still stands.
Would Craig Gordon break any record if he plays?
If he features, he would become the second-oldest player ever to appear at a World Cup. He would not pass El-Hadary’s overall record.
Sources
- FIFA — Age-defying El Hadary seizes the moment (oldest World Cup player record)
- ESPN — Craig Gordon on becoming the 2026 World Cup’s oldest player
- Opta Analyst — The Oldest Players in World Cup History
- Yahoo Sports — Oldest players in the World Cup 2026 ranked
- Vanguard — Neuer becomes seventh-oldest player to feature at World Cup
- GiveMeSport — Every 2026 World Cup squad ranked by age
- Sky Sports — World Cup 2026 fixture schedule
- ESPN — Scotland at the 2026 World Cup: schedule and group
- ESPN — Haiti 0-1 Scotland: result and recap (Gunn starts, Gordon benched)
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