Liverpool will be represented at the World Cup final by at least one player after summer signing Victor Munoz watched Spain secure their spot against France.
The 23-year-old winger is a part of a Spanish side that remains undefeated at the tournament, with their latest win booking a place in Sunday’s final.
France were the favourites heading into the semi-final tie, but Spain scored two unanswered goals in a dominant performance that maintains their incredible defensive record, having conceded just once.
Only Belgium have scored against the European Champions at the World Cup ahead of a showpiece appearance against the winner of Argentina and England.
Munoz, again, played no part in Tuesday’s fixture as he watched from the substitute bench for the seventh game in a row.
He is one of three outfield players not to have featured for Spain at the tournament so far, with left-back Alejandro Grimaldo and ex-Liverpool target Martin Zubimendi also going unused.
The attacker has been declared fit to take part after his recent battles with injuries, but with no competitive action since mid-May, it is not a surprise that manager Luis de la Fuente has turned to players with more rhythm and match sharpness.
His likeliest shot at minutes was if Spain only qualified for the third-place playoff, but he will still hope to play some part on Sunday as his country bids to win the World Cup for the second time.
3CR1MR0 Victor MUNOZ of CA Osasuna during the Spanish championship LaLiga football match between Real Betis and CA Osasuna on 28 September 2025 at Estadio La Cartuja in Sevilla, Spain
Munoz will head off on his summer break at the start of next week and could report for pre-season in early August as a World Cup winner, but Alexis Mac Allister could have something to say about that.
Liverpool’s No. 10 will face England in the semi-final on Wednesday evening, bidding to reach successive World Cup finals and defend Argentina’s 2022 crown.
In stark comparison to Munoz, Mac Allister has played 539 minutes at the tournament this summer, taking his total for 2025/26 so far to 4,333 minutes for club and country.
When will Munoz and Mac Allister report for pre-season?
3ETF1B8 Alexis Mac Allister of Argentina during the FIFA World Cup Group J match between Argentina and Austria at Dallas Stadium, Dallas on Monday 22nd June 2026. (Photo: Pat Isaacs | MI News) Credit: MI News & Sport /Alamy Live News
With their respective countries both making it to the final weekend, whether in the final or third-place playoff, they are not expected to report for pre-season until around August 10.
It is only 13 days before the Premier League season starts at Newcastle and less than a week prior to the final pre-season friendly against Como (August 16) at Anfield.
They will both be due at least three weeks off, like all their teammates previously eliminated at the World Cup.