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Andoni Iraola will have to wait a little longer to work with his full squad due to several players’ involvement at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Liverpool began the tournament with eight representatives, with Wataru Endo later withdrawing from the Japan squad due to injury.
The group was further boosted by the arrival of Victor Munoz from Osasuna after the activation of his £34.5m release clause. There is a strong chance many of them will progress to the knockout stages, delaying their return for pre-season.
According to the Liverpool Echo, Andoni Iraola’s squad is expected to report back for pre-season training around July 13 to begin preparations for the new season, which starts with a Premier League trip to Newcastle United on Sunday, August 23
Liverpool typically grant players three weeks off after international tournaments, meaning several World Cup participants would miss the opening phase of pre-season but could still join the US tour.
However, with multiple players – including Munoz, Alisson Becker, Ryan Gravenberch, Cody Gakpo, Virgil van Dijk, Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz and Alexis Mac Allister – expected to reach the knockout rounds, they could also miss the club’s US tour, which includes a friendly against Sunderland on July 25.
The round of 16 commences on July 4, making it unlikely any players involved in the latter stages will feature in the tour. Some could even be absent until Liverpool return from the United States in early August, when Iraola may finally have a full squad available.
Liverpool will tour the United States as part of their pre-season preparations for 2026–27, with fixtures against Sunderland, Wrexham and Leeds United confirmed.
The Reds will open their US schedule against Sunderland at Geodis Park in Nashville on July 25, before facing Wrexham at New York’s Yankee Stadium on July 29. They will then take on Leeds United at Soldier Field in Chicago on August 2.
Liverpool will play two home friendlies ahead of the 2026/27 season, against Monaco on August 9 and Como on August 16, following three matches in the US.