By the Numbers
- 1,248 — total players across all 48 teams (new World Cup record)
- 104 — total matches (up from 64 in 2022)
- 891 — first-time World Cup players
- 357 — players returning for at least their second tournament
- 22 — former World Cup champions in the mix (from Argentina, France, and Germany)
The Age Gap: 43 Going on 17
The oldest player in the tournament isn't Cristiano Ronaldo. It's Craig Gordon, Scotland's 43-year-old goalkeeper, who'll be 43 years and 162 days old when the tournament kicks off. Ronaldo sits at #2.
At the other end? Mexico's Gilberto Mora, who's just 17 years and 240 days. The age gap between the oldest and youngest player? Over a quarter century.
The Sixth-Timers Club: A Record That'll Stand Forever
Messi, Ronaldo, and Ochoa are about to play in their sixth World Cup. Let that sink in for a second — these guys have been doing this since 2006. Modrić joins them on his fifth.
This record isn't getting broken anytime soon. To play in six World Cups, you need to debut as a teenager and maintain elite fitness into your late 30s. Good luck.
Manchester City Owns This Tournament
When it comes to club representation, Pep Guardiola's machine dominates:
| Club | Players at World Cup |
|---|---|
| Manchester City | 19 (new record) |
| Bayern Munich | 18 |
| Arsenal | 16 |
| Barcelona | 15 |
| PSG | 15 |
Nineteen players from a single club at one World Cup. The previous record? Also Man City. At this point they're just competing with themselves.
The 73-Year-Old Legend You've Never Heard Of
Carlos Queiroz, Ghana's manager, is about to coach in his fifth consecutive World Cup. At 73, the Portuguese veteran previously led Iran and his native Portugal through four tournaments. He's only the second coach in history to hit five straight World Cups — the other being Bora Milutinović (1986-2002).
That's the kind of longevity that makes you rethink retirement plans.
