2026 World Cup to Kick Off on June 11: A Look at the Numbers Behind the Tournament
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will kick off on June 11. FIFA has compiled a list of interesting numbers related to this edition, including the sixth appearances of Messi, Ronaldo, and Ochoa, the oldest and youngest players, and the contribution of players from various professional leagues.
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- 📰 Published: June 4, 2026 at 17:09
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(Central News Agency, New York, 4th, Combined Foreign Reports) The 2026 FIFA World Cup will kick off on June 11. Below are interesting numbers related to this edition, compiled by the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA).
● 6
Argentina's Lionel Messi, Mexico's Guillermo Ochoa, and Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo will set a record by participating in their sixth World Cup. Messi and Ronaldo could become the first players to have 'played' in six World Cups; Ochoa did not get playing time in the 2006 Germany World Cup and the 2010 South Africa World Cup.
● 13
Argentina captain Lionel Messi is the active player with the most goals in World Cup history among this edition's participants (13 goals). He is followed by France's Kylian Mbappe (12 goals), England's Harry Kane (8 goals), Brazil's Neymar (8 goals), and Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo (8 goals).
The all-time leading scorer in World Cup history is former German star Miroslav Klose with 16 goals.
● 17
At just 17 years old, Mexican rising star Gilberto Mora is the youngest player in this World Cup. His 40-year-old veteran teammate, goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, had already played in a World Cup before Mora was born.
● 19
A total of 19 players in this tournament come from English Premier League club Manchester City, making City the professional club that has 'produced' the most World Cup players for this edition. They are followed by Bayern Munich (18 players), Arsenal (16), Paris Saint-Germain (16), and Barcelona (15).
● 43
At 43 years old, Scottish goalkeeper Craig Gordon is the oldest player in this tournament and the second-oldest player in World Cup history, behind only Egyptian former goalkeeper Essam El Hadary, who played in the 2018 Russia World Cup at the age of 45.
● 160
Panama's midfield linchpin Cesar Yanis is the shortest player in this tournament, standing at 160 cm. He is followed by Curacao forward Jeremy Antonisse, who is 164 cm tall.
● 200
A total of 1,248 players are participating in this World Cup, and as many as 200 of them play for professional league clubs in England. They are followed by 109 players from the German league, 86 from the French league, 86 from the Spanish league, and 71 from the Italian league, reflecting that European professional leagues remain the cornerstone of world football today.
● 205
Austrian goalkeeper Florian Wiegele, standing at 205 cm, will become the tallest player ever on a World Cup final squad, breaking the record of 203 cm set by Dutch goalkeeper Andries Noppert at the 2022 Qatar World Cup. (Editor: Chen Yiwei) 1150604
● 6
Argentina's Lionel Messi, Mexico's Guillermo Ochoa, and Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo will set a record by participating in their sixth World Cup. Messi and Ronaldo could become the first players to have 'played' in six World Cups; Ochoa did not get playing time in the 2006 Germany World Cup and the 2010 South Africa World Cup.
● 13
Argentina captain Lionel Messi is the active player with the most goals in World Cup history among this edition's participants (13 goals). He is followed by France's Kylian Mbappe (12 goals), England's Harry Kane (8 goals), Brazil's Neymar (8 goals), and Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo (8 goals).
The all-time leading scorer in World Cup history is former German star Miroslav Klose with 16 goals.
● 17
At just 17 years old, Mexican rising star Gilberto Mora is the youngest player in this World Cup. His 40-year-old veteran teammate, goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, had already played in a World Cup before Mora was born.
● 19
A total of 19 players in this tournament come from English Premier League club Manchester City, making City the professional club that has 'produced' the most World Cup players for this edition. They are followed by Bayern Munich (18 players), Arsenal (16), Paris Saint-Germain (16), and Barcelona (15).
● 43
At 43 years old, Scottish goalkeeper Craig Gordon is the oldest player in this tournament and the second-oldest player in World Cup history, behind only Egyptian former goalkeeper Essam El Hadary, who played in the 2018 Russia World Cup at the age of 45.
● 160
Panama's midfield linchpin Cesar Yanis is the shortest player in this tournament, standing at 160 cm. He is followed by Curacao forward Jeremy Antonisse, who is 164 cm tall.
● 200
A total of 1,248 players are participating in this World Cup, and as many as 200 of them play for professional league clubs in England. They are followed by 109 players from the German league, 86 from the French league, 86 from the Spanish league, and 71 from the Italian league, reflecting that European professional leagues remain the cornerstone of world football today.
● 205
Austrian goalkeeper Florian Wiegele, standing at 205 cm, will become the tallest player ever on a World Cup final squad, breaking the record of 203 cm set by Dutch goalkeeper Andries Noppert at the 2022 Qatar World Cup. (Editor: Chen Yiwei) 1150604
FAQ
Where will the 2026 World Cup be held?
The article does not specify the host location.
How many players are participating in this tournament?
A total of 1,248 players are participating in this World Cup.
Which league contributed the most players?
English professional leagues contributed the most with 200 players.