Qatar's Soria Eyes Historic World Cup Milestone As Oldest Outfield Player
Qatar’s Sebastian Soria celebrates after scoring a goal, during the World Cup qualifying soccer match between South Korea and Qatar, at Suwon World Cup Stadium in Suwon, South Korea, Thursday, Oct. 6, 2016. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon, File)
By GRAHAM DUNBAR Updated [hour]:[minute] [AMPM] [timezone], [monthFull] [day], [year] Leer en español Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share 
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GENEVA (AP) — Veteran Qatar forward Sebastián Soria has a chance to become the oldest outfield player to appear at a World Cup after the 42-year-old was included Tuesday in the country’s preliminary squad for tournament.
The Uruguay-born Soria was in a 34-player group selected by Qatar coach Julen Lopetegui, which must be cut to no more than 26 ahead of the World Cup starting June 11.
If Soria plays at the World Cup — where Qatar is in a group with co-host Canada, Switzerland and Bosnia-Herzegovina — he will break Roger Milla’s record as the oldest outfield player in the tournament’s 96-year history. Milla was also 42 when he played his last World Cup with Cameroon in 1994 in the United States.
The oldest-ever World Cup player is Egypt goalkeeper Essam El Hadary, who was 45 years, 161 days, when he played against Saudi Arabia in 2018.
Scotland’s 43-year-old goalkeeper Craig Gordon should also be at this year’s World Cup if he recovers from an injury in time.
Soria’s international career seemed to end in 2017 and he was not picked for the 2026 World Cup by the host nation.
He was called up again last October and played in Qatar’s decisive World Cup qualifying game. Soria came on as a second-half substitute in a 2-1 win over the United Arab Emirates in Doha.
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“Thankful to God for letting me live this one,” Soria wrote on his Instagram account after the game, “proud to wear the Al Anabi jersey once again and represent this beautiful country.”
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Soria moved to play in the Qatari league in 2004 and was naturalized as a citizen before making his national team debut in 2007.
Qatar starts its World Cup campaign June 13 against Switzerland in San Francisco. Qatar then plays Canada in Vancouver and finishes Group B against Bosnia-Herzegovina in Seattle on June 24.
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Dunbar is an Associated Press sports news reporter in Geneva, Switzerland. He focuses on the governing bodies, institutions and politics of international sports. twitter mailto
