17 Years Old and Playing in the World Cup? Meet the 3 Youngest Players

Spain’s prodigy Lamine Yamal might be the best soccer player in the world at 18 as he enters the World Cup hoping to continue his international winning ways after hoisting the European champion at 16.

But even if the 18-year-old wunderkind is one of the main characters of this upcoming World Cup in North America, he’s actually not one of the youngest five players in the tournament.

Yamal, who will celebrate his 19th birthday in the United States if Spain reaches the World Cup Final, will turn 19 during the event.

Here are the three youngest players in the official World Cup field, starting with the only 17-year-old.

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Gilberto Mora: 17 years, 240 days (Mexico, Club Tijuana)

Mora is going to get a lot of comparisons to Yamal during the World Cup, and for good reason. Although Mora isn’t on the same level as the Barcelona superstar when they were the same age, the 17-year-old is the true future of a Mexican team that needs a bright-eyed star to usher in the next generation.

The question is whether Mexico will throw him into the deep end in front of the home crowd or keep him on the bench as a super substitute to bring energy late in games.

Hugo Sochurek: 18 years, 4 days (Czechia, Sparta Prague)

The 17-year-old Sochurek will celebrate his 18th birthday days before the World Cup kicks off, leaving Mora as the only 17-year-old player in the tournament. Sochurek has been a product of the Czech system and feels more of a 2030 impact player than an immediate competitor.

Lennart Karl: 18 years, 109 days (Germany, Bayern Munich)

Karl is a true generational talent and is seen as the future ace of one of the powerhouses of world soccer. He became Bayern Munich’s youngest goal scorer ever in the Champions League, and then somehow one-upped himself by scoring in three-straight games in the most prestigious club competition on the planet.

On a team that might need some offensive creativity and youth to make a deep run, Karl could be the breakthrough name of the World Cup.

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This story was originally published June 4, 2026 at 6:19 PM.