How Team USA inspires the nation with their faith
Former pro soccer player and Seattle Sounders pastor Jesse Bradley discusses the U.S. men’s national team’s historic start at the 2026 World Cup, winning its first two group stage games since 1930. Bradley emphasizes the team’s inspiring public faith that leads to Bible studies and post-match prayer, and how it unites Americans through a popular soccer sport that is now emerging in soccer.
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The WC is well under way and we have seen players from all corners of the world shine on the sport’s biggest stage.
We have also seen players of all ages shine on the pitch so far in the tournament. While most players can legally purchase an alcoholic beverage in the three host countries – the United States, Mexico and Canada – some are so young that they cannot legally drink.
To drink legally in the United States, you must be at least 21 years old, and some players in the World Cup are a few years away from enjoying their first beer. In Canada, the legal drinking age is determined by province and territory, but you must be 18 or 19 to drink, and not all players meet these thresholds.
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Mexican midfielder Gilberto Mora stands for Mexico’s national anthem before a match against Paraguay at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas on November 18, 2025. (Daniel Jefferson/Imagn Images)
In Mexico, you can start drinking when you’re 18 years old, yet there’s one player in this year’s tournament who can’t. Gilberto Mora, who plays for Mexico at the World Cup, is still 17 years old.
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Czech Republic midfielder Hugo Sochurek warms up ahead of the 2026 World Cup Group A match against South Korea at Guadalajara Stadium in Zapopan on June 11, 2026. (Ulises Ruiz/AFP via Getty Images)
Here is a list of the 10 youngest players at the World Cup in 2026
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Senegal forward Ibrahim Mbaye runs onto the pitch after scoring a goal against France during a 2026 FIFA World Cup Group I match at the New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ on June 16, 2026. (Vincent Carchietta/Imagn Images)
- Mora – Mexico, 17 years old, born October 14, 2008
- Hugo Sochurek – Czech Republic, 18 years old, born on June 7, 2008
- Ibrahim Mbaye – Senegal, 18 years old, born on 24 January 2008
- Hamza Abdelkarim – Egypt, 18 years old, born January 1, 2008
- Bara Sapoko Ndiaye – Senegal, 18 years old, born 31 December 2007
- Mladen Jurkas – Bosnia and Herzegovina, 18 years old, born on 7 October 2007
- Ayyoub Bouaddi – Morocco, 18 years old, born on 2 October 2007
- Kerim Alajbegovic – Bosnia and Herzegovina, 18 years old, born on 21 September 2007
- Rayan Elloumi – Tunisia, 18 years old, born on 17 September 2007
- Lucas Herrington – Australia, age 18, born 5 September 2007
