FIFA World Cup 2026: Who could be the oldest player at the tournament? The contenders

Veteran Qatar striker Sebastián Soria has a chance to become the oldest outfield player to play at a World Cup after the 42-year-old was named in the country’s provisional squad for the tournament on Tuesday.

Uruguay-born Soria was in a group of 34 players selected by Qatar coach Julen Lopetegui, which is to be reduced to a maximum of 26 players ahead of the World Cup starting on June 11.

If Soria plays at the World Cup – where Qatar is in a group with co-hosts Canada, Switzerland and Bosnia-Herzegovina – he will break Roger Milla’s record as the oldest outfield player in the tournament’s 96-year history. Milla was also 42 when he played his last World Cup with Cameroon in the United States in 1994.

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The oldest World Cup player ever is Egyptian goalkeeper Essam El Hadary, who was 45 years and 161 days when he played against Saudi Arabia in 2018.

Scotland’s 43-year-old goalkeeper Craig Gordon should also be at this year’s World Cup if he recovers from an injury in time.

Soria’s international career appeared to end in 2017 and he was not picked by the host nation for the 2022 World Cup.

He was called up again last October and played in Qatar’s decisive World Cup qualifier. Soria came on as a second-half substitute in the 2–1 win over the United Arab Emirates in Doha.

“Thankful to God for allowing me to experience this,” Soria wrote on his Instagram account after the match, “proud to wear the Al Anabi jersey again and represent this beautiful country.”

Soria went on to play in the Qatari league in 2004 and became a naturalized citizen before making his national team debut in 2007.

Qatar starts its World Cup campaign on June 13 against Switzerland in San Francisco. Qatar next plays Canada in Vancouver and closes Group B against Bosnia-Herzegovina in Seattle on June 24.

Published on May 12, 2026