The 2026 World Cup has more players over 40 than every World Cup before it combined

NPR | By Ayesha Rascoe

Published June 28, 2026 at 8:27 AM EDT

There are more players over 40 in this World Cup than all previous World Cups combined. NPR's Ayesha Rascoe asks Dr. Riley Williams of New York's Hospital for Special Surgery about aging athletes.

Ayesha Rascoe

Ayesha Rascoe is the host of "Weekend Edition Sunday" and the Saturday episodes of "Up First." As host of the morning news magazine, she interviews news makers, entertainers, politicians and more about the stories that everyone is talking about or that everyone should be talking about.

See stories by Ayesha Rascoe

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