World Cup 2026 Wonderkids: the teenagers to watch

World Cup 2026 Wonderkids: the teenagers to watch — including one from Austria's league

The 2026 World Cup is a tournament of teenagers: 22 of them made the squads, led by 17-year-old Gilberto Mora. For DACH fans, though, the most interesting name comes from the home league — Kerim Alajbegović, off to the World Cup at 18 from RB Salzburg. Here are the wonderkids worth knowing — plus an honest tipping check on which of them actually moves your bracket. (One note up front: Lamine Yamal is there — just not for the opener.)

Stand: 2026-06-06 · World Cup 2026: June 11 to July 19.

Gilberto Mora — the youngest in the whole tournament

At 17, Mexico's Gilberto Mora is the youngest player at World Cup 2026 and the only one under 18. The Club Tijuana midfielder — nicknamed "the Mexican Pedri" — became the youngest player ever to win a major tournament (the 2025 Gold Cup). And he plays for the host that opens the tournament on June 11 at Estadio Azteca. Tipping check: anyone tipping Mexico's opener is tipping Mora too — he's a starter.

Kerim Alajbegović — the ADMIRAL-Bundesliga bonus

The most relevant name for our region: Kerim Alajbegović, born September 21, 2007, heads to the World Cup at 18 with Bosnia and Herzegovina — straight out of the ADMIRAL Bundesliga. In his first season at RB Salzburg (2025/26) the winger racked up eight goals and three assists and was voted Newcomer of the Season; at 17 years and 323 days he became the second-youngest Salzburg scorer in club history. In March 2026 Bayer Leverkusen triggered a buy-back clause — Alajbegović returns there next season.

In other words: if you watch the Austrian league, you've already seen a World Cup player live. Per Sky Sport Austria, several ADMIRAL-Bundesliga pros are in World Cup squads — the youngest and most eye-catching is Alajbegović. That bridge between the home league and the world stage is exactly what a Salzburg or Sturm fan loves about World Cup 2026.

Lamine Yamal — there, but not for the opener

The "Yamal's not going" headline is clickbait: the 18-year-old is in Spain's squad and turns 19 a week before the final. But an April hamstring injury slows him — Yamal misses Spain's opener and is a major doubt for the second group game, with a return expected no earlier than late in the group stage. Tipping check: this is the single biggest teenager factor for your round. Spain without Yamal in game one isn't the same Spain — pencil in tighter scorelines until he's back.

The other young guns

• Pau Cubarsí (19, Spain/Barcelona) — the calm centre-back who already started four of six qualifiers. Plays when Spain has to defend deep.
• Endrick (19, Brazil/Real Madrid) — the super-sub with a poacher's instinct; dangerous when Brazil needs a late goal.
• Estêvão (19, Brazil/Chelsea) — a regular contender for the Seleção after a strong debut season in Europe; the dribbler who can crack open a 0-0.
• Warren Zaïre-Emery (20, France/PSG) — the youngest man in France's squad and already a two-time Champions League winner. A luxury in France's deep squad (see our Saliba analysis).

Which teenager actually moves your prediction?

Not every young gun changes your standings. Three do: Mora, because he starts in the most-tipped opening match; Yamal, because his return decides how comfortably Spain navigates its group; and Alajbegović, if you have Bosnia on your dark-horse list. For each of the 104 matches our AI Pick gives a take with reasoning — and with young, hard-to-read squads, that's worth its weight in gold.

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Who is the youngest player at World Cup 2026?

Mexico's Gilberto Mora, 17, is the youngest player at the tournament and the only one under 18. He's a Club Tijuana midfielder and became the youngest ever to win the Gold Cup in 2025.

Who is Kerim Alajbegović?

An 18-year-old winger (born 21 September 2007) going to World Cup 2026 with Bosnia and Herzegovina, who played 2025/26 for RB Salzburg in the ADMIRAL Bundesliga — eight goals, three assists and Newcomer of the Season. From 2026/27 he's back at Bayer Leverkusen.

Is Lamine Yamal playing at World Cup 2026?

Yes. Yamal is in Spain's squad but misses the opener with a hamstring injury and is doubtful for the second group game. A return is expected no earlier than late in the group stage.

How many teenagers are at World Cup 2026?

22 teenagers made the 48 squads. The youngest is Gilberto Mora (17), the only player under 18 in the whole tournament.

Which young player affects my World Cup prediction most?

Lamine Yamal: whether and when he returns from injury shapes how convincingly Spain wins its group. Then Gilberto Mora (Mexico's opener) and, for dark-horse tips, Kerim Alajbegović for Bosnia.

Discover more

• World Cup 2026 overview — the tournament pillar
• World Cup 2026 favourites — who will win?
• France & Saliba: does the favourite hold?
• Estadio Azteca — where World Cup 2026 kicks off

Stand: 2026-06-06 · Author: Leo Brunnhofer, tiptilldone.com

Sources:

• CBS Sports: World Cup 2026 squads by the numbers (youngest players)
• kicker: Kerim Alajbegović player profile 2025/26
• Bundesliga.com: Leverkusen sign Alajbegović on buy-back from Salzburg
• ESPN: Yamal hamstring injury and Spain's World Cup
• Sky Sport Austria: ADMIRAL-Bundesliga players at the World Cup