Gen Z are only just making sad realisation about this year’s World Cup

Gen Z are only just making a particularly sad realisation about this year’s World Cup.

Many of us have found our For You Pages suddenly become a sea of football clips, emotional countdowns and Erling Haaland fan edits.

Amidst the avalanche of content, there's one trend that's been sending Gen Z into a full-blown existentialist spiral.

It may sound a tad dramatic at first, until you actually do the maths.

Now, the FIFA World Cup only comes around every four years, which means after this summer's tournament, the next one won't kick off until 2030.

By that point, older members of Gen Z have realised they'll have waved goodbye to watching the World Cup while still in their 20s.

Older Gen Z members have only just realised this is the last World Cup they'll ever watch in their 20s - and that's apparently a HUGE deal (Julian Finney - FIFA / Contributor / Getty Images)

Gen Z covers anyone born between 1997 and 2012.

In 2026, such individuals will be aged between 14 and 29, meaning that by the time the 2030 tournament rolls around, that same generation will be between 18 and 33.

So while younger Gen Z fans will still have plenty of World Cups ahead before hitting 30, anyone celebrating their 27th, 28th or 29th birthday this year is officially entering the end of an era.

Naturally, the epiphany has led many to suffer a collective quarter-life crisis, with social media users rushing in to share their thoughts.

"Last World Cup in your 20s, btw," penned one TikTok user.

A second confessed: "This has ruined my day, just to let you know."

"You’ve just ruined my day," echoed a third as a fourth chimed in: "Gasped because I’ll be 30 next time."

A fifth commented: "I'll be 32. This has annoyed me."

The realisation sent Gen Z into a collective quarter-life crisis (Getty Stock Images)

"Damn… I’ll be 30 by the next World Cup," admitted a sixth.

A seventh piped up: "I scrolled, then came back realising that I’m the target audience. I’ll be turning 30, crazy."

"I don’t give a flying rat’s a** about the World Cup, but knowing this really scares me omg," shared another.

And a final TikToker gloated: "Omg I almost freaked out, but I’m not that old yet. Stay safe out there."

Now, obviously, your age doesn't determine how 'good' World Cup watching will be, but the realisation has clearly made a whole bunch of Gen Z very aware that they, too, will grow old one day.

England faces Norway on Saturday (11 July) in one of the biggest fixtures of the competition.

France beat Morocco yesterday (9 July), while Spain will play against Belgium on Friday (10 July).

The day after England's match, Argentina will play against Switzerland on Sunday (12 July).