At 42, Qatar forward Sebastián Soria is on the verge of making history. If he takes the pitch at the 2026 World Cup, he could become the oldest outfield player ever to appear in the tournament—a record that has stood for over three decades.
Named Tuesday in Qatar's preliminary 34-player squad by coach Julen Lopetegui, Soria is one step closer to that milestone. The final 26-man roster must be submitted before the World Cup kicks off June 11. Should he make the cut and play, Soria would surpass Cameroon legend Roger Milla, who was also 42 when he played at the 1994 World Cup in the United States.
Qatar has been drawn into Group B alongside co-hosts Canada, Switzerland, and Bosnia-Herzegovina. Their campaign opens June 13 against Switzerland in San Francisco, followed by matches in Vancouver and Seattle. The team will need every bit of experience and grit to advance from a challenging group.
Soria's journey back to the national team is a story of perseverance. Born in Uruguay, he moved to Qatar in 2004 to play in the domestic league and was naturalized as a citizen before making his international debut in 2007. After his international career appeared to end in 2017, and with no call-up for the 2022 World Cup, many thought his time was up. But last October, he received a surprise recall and made a crucial second-half substitute appearance in a 2-1 qualifying win over the United Arab Emirates in Doha.
"Thankful to God for letting me live this one," Soria wrote on Instagram after the game, "proud to wear the Al Anabi jersey once again and represent this beautiful country."
If Soria plays, he'll join an elite group of ageless wonders. The oldest player in World Cup history remains Egypt goalkeeper Essam El Hadary, who was 45 years and 161 days old when he faced Saudi Arabia in 2018. Scotland's 43-year-old goalkeeper Craig Gordon could also feature this year if he recovers from injury in time.
For sports fans and apparel enthusiasts alike, Soria's story is a reminder that passion and dedication know no age. Whether you're cheering from the stands or gearing up for your own game, his journey inspires us all to keep chasing our goals.