has the youngest participant on the 2026 FIFA World Cup. He may also be certainly one of its most necessary.
, an attacking midfielder for Membership Tijuana, can be 17 years and 240 days previous when the event kicks off June 11. That makes him the youngest of the throughout the 48-team area, in response to FIFA.
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Mexico opens the event in opposition to on June 11 on the Estadio Azteca in Mexico Metropolis, and there’s a stable likelihood that Mora can be within the beginning lineup.
Who’s Gilberto Mora?
Gilberto Rafael Mora Zambrano grew up in Tuxtla Gutierrez, in southern Mexico’s Chiapas state, the son of a former Liga MX midfielder. His father, Gilberto Mora Olayo, performed for Toluca, Chiapas, Puebla and Tijuana earlier than retiring in 2011 and transferring into teaching. He’s now a coach within the Tijuana youth system, the one which produced his son.
At 5-foot-6, Mora is small and fast. The attacking midfielder is a technical participant with the drive to constantly transfer the ball ahead. He additionally has an eye fixed for a move or a shot.
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Why is Mora certainly one of Mexico’s most necessary gamers
On the 2025 Gold Cup, veteran midfielder Luis Chavez received damage and coach Javier Aguirre turned to the 16-year previous Mora, who began the semifinal in opposition to Honduras and arrange the game-winner.
He has been Tijuana’s primary artistic risk in Liga MX, drawing scouts from , , and . The one factor retaining Mora in Mexico for now could be a FIFA rule that blocks gamers beneath 18 from transferring overseas.
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2026 World Cup: 20 gamers who will get you out of your seat
SPAIN: Lamine Yamal. Nonetheless simply a youngster, few gamers are as thrilling with the ball at their toes because the 18-year-old Barcelona winger. He already has 23 caps for Spain, bursting onto the scene as 16-year-old sensation.
(NIKOLAY DOYCHINOV, AFP by way of Getty Photos)
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2026 World Cup: 20 gamers who will get you out of your seat
SPAIN: Lamine Yamal. Nonetheless simply a youngster, few gamers are as thrilling with the ball at their toes because the 18-year-old Barcelona winger. He already has 23 caps for Spain, bursting onto the scene as 16-year-old sensation.
(NIKOLAY DOYCHINOV, AFP by way of Getty Photos)
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2026 World Cup: 20 gamers who will get you out of your seat
ARGENTINA: Lionel Messi. This actually is the final experience for the one of many best gamers to ever do it. He led La Albiceleste to World Cup glory in 2022 and continues to be defying Father Time at 38 years previous (he’ll flip 39 through the event).
(LUIS ROBAYO, AFP by way of Getty Photos)
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2026 World Cup: 20 gamers who will get you out of your seat
FRANCE: Want Doue. Kylian Mbappe and Michael Olise are the celebs of France’s assault, however do not forget the 20-year-old Doue, who’s a key piece in Paris Saint-Germain’s midfield. He is a difficult participant who is continually placing defenses beneath strain.
(FRANCK FIFE, AFP by way of Getty Photos)
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2026 World Cup: 20 gamers who will get you out of your seat
ENGLAND: Bukayo Saka. The 24-year-old Arsenal winger is already a well known commodity. He is appeared greater than 200 instances for Arsenal and has 14 England objectives already. His left foot is a wand chopping in off the precise and he constantly places defenders on their heels.
(Justin Setterfield, Getty Photos)
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2026 World Cup: 20 gamers who will get you out of your seat
GERMANY: Jamal Musiala. The 22-year-old Bayern Munich attacker is coming off a severe ankle damage suffered at July’s FIFA Membership World Cup. He must be go good to go this summer season and his trickery and dribbling give the Germans an added dimension in midfield.
(FABRICE COFFRINI, AFP by way of Getty Photos)
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2026 World Cup: 20 gamers who will get you out of your seat
BELGIUM: Jeremy Doku. This 23-year-old Manchester Metropolis winger is electrical. He is among the many finest dribblers within the Premier League and is a nightmare when he is working at defenders with the ball at his toes.
(VIRGINIE LEFOUR, BELGA MAG/AFP by way of Getty Photos)
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2026 World Cup: 20 gamers who will get you out of your seat
PORTUGAL: Cristiano Ronaldo. At 40 years previous, he is nonetheless not slowing down. Ronaldo has scored 109 objectives since transferring to Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia 4 years in the past and has transferred that kind to Portugal, with eight objectives in 9 video games for the nationwide workforce in 2025.
(Charles McQuillan, Getty Photos)
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2026 World Cup: 20 gamers who will get you out of your seat
JAPAN: Takefusa Kubo. The 24-year-old Actual Sociedad proper winger (ESP) will constantly run at defenders, placing opponents on their heels. He led Japan in objectives+assists in qualifying (11) and can be key to Samurai Blue’s assault.
(Koji Watanabe, Getty Photos)
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2026 World Cup: 20 gamers who will get you out of your seat
NORWAY: Erling Haaland. An unstoppable power, the 25-year-old striker led Norway to its first World Cup since 1998. He is a scoring machine with 55 objectives in 48 video games for Norway and is quick approaching 150 profession objectives for Manchester Metropolis in simply over 160 video games performed.
(ALBERTO PIZZOLI, AFP by way of Getty Photos)
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2026 World Cup: 20 gamers who will get you out of your seat
MOROCCO: Abde Ezzalzouli. A 23-year-old left winger who performs for Actual Betis in Spain, will get objectives and assists and is not afraid to get caught in. He scored in Morocco’s 6-0 win over Egypt within the 2024 bronze medal recreation within the Paris Olympics.
(Robert Cianflone, Getty Photos)
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2026 World Cup: 20 gamers who will get you out of your seat
USA: Christian Pulisic. Rather a lot falls on the shoulders of Captain America, and the 27-year-old winger has been constructing to this second. He is performed for a few of Europe’s greatest golf equipment (Chelsea, Borussia Dortmund and now AC Milan) and has 32 objectives in 82 caps for the US.
(FREDERIC J. BROWN, AFP by way of Getty Photos)
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2026 World Cup: 20 gamers who will get you out of your seat
ENGLAND: Phil Foden. The 25-year-old midfielder was named 2024 English Premier League Participant of the 12 months, scoring 19 objectives in Manchester CIty’s title-winning season. He dropped off a bit final season, however continues to be some of the artistic gamers within the EPL.
(Alex Pantling, Getty Photos)
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2026 World Cup: 20 gamers who will get you out of your seat
NETHERLANDS: Cody Gakpo. The 26-year-old Liverpool ahead has already scored 19 objectives for Holland in simply 46 caps.Memphis Depay continues to be the focus of the Dutch assault, however Gakpo supplies loads of talent and pace to open up defenses.
(JOHN THYS, AFP by way of Getty Photos)
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2026 World Cup: 20 gamers who will get you out of your seat
ARGENTINA: Nico Paz. A part of La Albiceleste’s subsequent era, the 21-year-old midfielder is off to a flier this season for Como in Italy’s Serie A. He’ll doubtless head again to Actual Madrid subsequent season and is the longer term midfield maestro for Argentina.
(Wealthy Storry, Getty Photos)
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2026 World Cup: 20 gamers who will get you out of your seat
SPAIN: Nico Williams. With Lamine Yamal on one aspect and Williams on the opposite, Spain’s wingers give defenses sleepless nights. The 23-year-old Athletic Bilbao winger has six objectives in 30 Spain caps and is electrical with the ball at his toes.
(NIKOLAY DOYCHINOV, AFP by way of Getty Photos)
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2026 World Cup: 20 gamers who will get you out of your seat
AUSTRALIA: Nestory Irankunda. Diminutive however dynamic, this 19-year-old ahead has blistering tempo, nice dribbling means and rocket for a shot. He had a short spell with Bayern Munich’s reserves, however now performs for Watford in The EFL Championship (England’s second tier).
(Minas Panagiotakis, Getty Photos)
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2026 World Cup: 20 gamers who will get you out of your seat
CANADA: Tajon Buchanan. The 26-year-old winger has featured 57 instances for Canada and is amongst its most harmful attacking choices. He is scored 4 instances this season for Villareal in Spain.
(CHARLY TRIBALLEAU, AFP by way of Getty Photos)
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2026 World Cup: 20 gamers who will get you out of your seat
SWITZERLAND: Johan Manzambi. The 20-year-old midfielder who performs for Freiburg in Germany has eight caps for the Swiss workforce (all this yr) and scored in opposition to the U.S. in a 4-0 win final June.
(FABRICE COFFRINI, AFP by way of Getty Photos)
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2026 World Cup: 20 gamers who will get you out of your seat
SENEGAL: Ismaila Sarr. The 27-year-old winger has scored 4 objectives in seven matches for the nationwide workforce in 2025 and is a key half to the overachieving Crystal Palace workforce in England.
(KENZO TRIBOUILLARD, AFP by way of Getty Photos)Mora’s rise in Liga MX
Mora debuted for Tijuana on Aug. 19, 2024 in opposition to Santos Laguna at 15 years, 10 months and 5 days previous. He was Tijuana’s youngest ever debutant and the third youngest participant to debut in Liga MX.
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Twelve days later, he rating in opposition to Leon. At 15 years and 320 days, he was the youngest goal-scorer within the historical past of Mexico’s prime league.
Worldwide breakthrough
Mora performed his first aggressive match for Mexico at 16, beginning the 2025 Gold Cup quarterfinal in opposition to . Two weeks later, he began the ultimate in opposition to the US. Mexico gained 2-1, and Mora turned the youngest participant ever to win a senior worldwide event, per Guinness World Information. He broke data held by ’s , who gained Euro 2024 at 16, and Brazil’s Pele, who gained the 1958 World Cup at 17.
Mexico midfielder Gilberto Mora (7) celebrates with the trophy after defeating the US through the 2025 Gold Cup Closing at NRG Stadium.
Switch curiosity
Actual Madrid, Barcelona, Arsenal and Manchester Metropolis have all been linked with Mora, per ESPN. {The teenager} seems destined for a European membership sooner moderately than later.
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Different youngsters to observe within the 2026 World Cup
Lennart Karl of can be 18 years, 109 days previous at kickoff. Yamal, now 18, and Barcelona teammate Pau Cubarsi, 19, are already Champions League regulars. ’s , ’s and ’s Kendry Paez are additionally nonetheless youngsters.