Victor Munoz will be at the World Cup until the final weekend after Spain qualified for the semi-final, which means he will have a very late arrival at Liverpool.
Liverpool’s new winger was declared fit to feature against Belgium on Friday evening, but he remained an unused substitute for the sixth time at the tournament.
Spain scored another late winner thanks to Arsenal‘s Mikel Merino, securing a 2-1 win to earn a place in the semi-final against France.
Although that fixture will take place on Tuesday, the inclusion of a third-place playoff means that irrespective of the result, Munoz will be in the United States until the weekend of July 18/19.
If he, like the rest of his new Liverpool teammates, is given the minimum three weeks off, he will only report for pre-season around August 9/10.
This timeline rules the Spaniard completely out of Liverpool’s pre-season tour of the US. Instead, he will only return in the days leading up to the Reds’ final pre-season friendly.
Liverpool face Monaco on August 9 in the first of two Anfield friendlies, with Como’s visit on August 16 the final match before the Premier League opener at Newcastle the following weekend.
Victor Munoz of Spain during the friendly match between Spain and Egypt played at RCDE Stadium on March 31, 2026 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Sergio Ruiz/PRESSINPHOTO)
He will be anticipated to have a role against Como, but in an ideal world, Andoni Iraola could want to name a side close to the one that will start his first league match at St James’ Park.
Munoz will be expected to return injury-free, but will lack competitive match fitness as his role with Spain is likely to remain limited, unless he is utilised in a potential Bronze final.
The 22-year-old has not played since mid-May, and that, combined with his late pre-season arrival, will be a blow for Iraola and Liverpool.
Liverpool Pre-Season Friendlies 2026/27
Sat, July 25: Sunderland (US Tour)Geodis Park, Nashville
Wed, July 29: Wrexham (US Tour)Yankee Stadium, New York
Sun, Aug 2: Leeds United (US Tour)Soldier Field, Chicago
Sun, Aug 9: MonacoAnfield
Sun, Aug 16: Como 1907Anfield