Brazil midfielder Casemiro says the team may be \u201ca step behind\u201d the top betting choices, but expects it to be an advantage.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nTeenage talent and past World Cup breakthroughs<\/h2>\n
The 2026 World Cup\u2019s squad composition highlights how often teenagers seize major tournaments. Mora is already among the most talked-about young prospects, but he is not alone in arriving with a reputation built on early impact.<\/p>\n
Historically, several global stars have made their mark as teenagers at the World Cup. Pel\u00e9, for example, was 17 when he helped guide Brazil to the title in 1958, while Kylian Mbapp\u00e9 was 19 when he led France to World Cup glory in 2018.<\/p>\n
Two decades earlier, Michael Owen experienced a similarly formative moment at 18 during the 1998 World Cup in France.<\/p>\n
More recently, a new generation has been establishing itself in top European football. Lamine Yamal, aged 18, and Pau Cubars\u00ed, aged 19, have been impressing for Barcelona. Germany\u2019s Lennart Karl, also 18, has just enjoyed a breakthrough campaign with Bayern Munich.<\/p>\n
Not all first-timers are teenage sensations. Several players are older than 19 but could be making their first World Cup appearances, including Warren Za\u00efre-Emery at 20 and D\u00e9sir\u00e9 Dou\u00e9 at 21\u2014France internationals who have become regulars for Paris Saint-Germain, the two-time defending Champions League winner.<\/p>\n
There are also 21-year-olds who have been in the spotlight for a while and may debut in the tournament. England\u2019s Nico O\u2019Reilly, of Manchester City, and Turkey\u2019s Arda G\u00fcler, of Real Madrid, fit that profile. Nico Paz, another 21-year-old, was named to Argentina\u2019s World Cup squad after a breakthrough with Como in Italy\u2019s league system, a run that helped the club earn a place in the Champions League for the first time.<\/p>\n
Mora\u2019s rise in Liga MX and Mexico\u2019s hopes<\/h2>\n
For Mexico, Mora stands out as one of the most exciting prospects the country has produced in years, with a potential chance to become the youngest Mexican to ever appear at a World Cup at the age of 17.<\/p>\n
The midfielder has been gaining attention in Liga MX with Tijuana. He was also named in the Mexico side that won the Gold Cup in 2025, starting for the team during that success.<\/p>\n
Mora\u2019s rapid development has been notable since his earliest senior opportunities. In August 2024, he became the youngest player to both start and score in Mexico\u2019s top flight at the age of 15. Then, in January 2025, he became the youngest to make his Mexico debut at 16.<\/p>\n
Reports suggest several elite clubs are monitoring his progress, including Real Madrid, Barcelona, and clubs from the Premier League.<\/p>\n
Beyond Mora, the World Cup\u2019s young cohort includes Yan Diomande, Endrick, Ibrahim Mbaye, and Kendry P\u00e1ez.<\/p>\n
Diomande, 19, is set to be a key figure for C\u00f4te d\u2019Ivoire after impressing with Leipzig in the Bundesliga. Endrick, also 19, will look to shine for Brazil after finishing the season strongly with Lyon in Ligue 1.<\/p>\n
Mbaye, aged 18, made history at the Africa Cup of Nations earlier this year by becoming the youngest Senegalese goalscorer, helping Senegal reach the final at just 17 years old.<\/p>\n
P\u00e1ez, 19 and an attacking midfielder, has been a regular for Ecuador. Chelsea reached an agreement in 2023 to sign P\u00e1ez from Independiente del Valle in Ecuador, with the transfer completed when he turned 18 in 2025. Chelsea then loaned him to Strasbourg last year, and he is currently playing on loan at River Plate.<\/p>\n
Age records, World Cup experience and a new-look coaching storyline<\/h2>\n
The tournament will also feature extreme ends of the age spectrum. Scotland goalkeeper Craig Gordon is expected to be the oldest player at 43 years and 162 days, while Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo\u2014at 41\u2014forms part of a group of seven players aged 40 or older.<\/p>\n
Across the entire participant list, 357 players have already appeared in at least one World Cup, while 891 are set to make their debut on football\u2019s biggest stage.<\/p>\n
On the coaching front, Ghana\u2019s Portuguese manager Carlos Queiroz, 73, is set to become only the second coach to guide a team at five consecutive World Cups\u2014following Bora Milutinovi\u0107, who did it between 1986 and 2002.<\/p>\n
Queiroz previously led Portugal at the 2010 World Cup and later coached Iran in the tournaments of 2014, 2018 and 2022.<\/p>\n
Casemiro on Brazil\u2019s expectations and Group C opponents<\/h2>\n
Brazil midfielder Casemiro believes that being viewed as less of a \u201cmust-win\u201d favourite could work to the team\u2019s advantage as the 2026 World Cup gets underway next week.<\/p>\n
Brazil are chasing a record-extending sixth World Cup crown, but they are currently positioned behind several top betting teams\u2014European champions Spain, 2018 winners France, and England\u2014in the odds for the tournament in North America, scheduled from June 11 to July 19.<\/p>\n
Speaking after Brazil arrived in the United States on Tuesday, the 34-year-old told FIFA\u2019s media channel: \u201cWe aren\u2019t the big favourites. Of course, we\u2019re in good shape; we\u2019ve got a strong squad, with a mix of experience and young talent.\u201d<\/p>\n
He added: \u201cPerhaps this time we\u2019re a step behind, but we\u2019re on our toes and that\u2019s always a good thing. We want to go there in good shape and have a great World Cup.\u201d<\/p>\n
Casemiro also pointed to a challenging build-up period, saying Brazil went through a \u201cdifficult cycle\u201d as the Brazilian Football Confederation appointed Carlo Ancelotti as coach and named a new president last year.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt has been a difficult cycle with a change of manager, a change of president and a lot of turmoil,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He suggested that limited preparation time with the new staff has not prevented momentum, stating: \u201cWe have only had one year working with the manager, who has excellent experience in football, but in reality we have only worked together for 40 days. I think we will go into the tournament in strong form.\u201d<\/p>\n
Casemiro concluded by emphasising the balance within the squad: \u201cWe have quality players, experienced players, energetic players and young players. I think we have a good mix for this competition.\u201d<\/p>\n
Brazil\u2019s Group C opponents are Morocco, Haiti and Scotland.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Mexico teenager Gilberto Mora is set to make history at the 2026 World Cup, arriving at the finals as the youngest player in the tournament\u201417 years and 240 days old when the competition begins. Key takeaways Gilberto Mora will be 17 years and 240 days at the start of the 2026 World Cup, the youngest […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1464,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_yoast_wpseo_title":"Gilberto Mora 17: Youngest World Cup 2026 Player","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Mexico\u2019s Gilberto Mora, 17, is set to be the youngest player at the 2026 World Cup\u201417 years and 240 days as the tournament kicks o","mma_seo_breadcrumb_text":"","mma_seo_breadcrumb_url":"","mma_seo_breadcrumb_hide_ui":"","mma_seo_breadcrumb_labels":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1465","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","","category-sports"],"yoast_head":"\n
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