- At least 12 Liverpool players are expected to play at the 2026 FIFA World Cup
- Despite the struggles under Arne Slot, the Reds remain crucial to several favourites
- One special player arrives as the tournament’s linchpin and is an early Golden Ball candidate
As the domestic season winds down and the focus shifts to the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America, Liverpool fans have more reason than ever to keep a close eye on the international stage.
It has been a season of turbulence at Anfield, and while some of our biggest stars have not hit the heights expected, the summer tournament offers the perfect platform for a reset.
As many as 13 Reds players could feature when the biggest World Cup of all time kicks off in the United States, Canada and Mexico in June.
This list includes Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson, who would technically still be Liverpool players when the tournament begins, as well as Vitezslav Jaros, who will be eagerly waiting to see if he has a seat on the Czech Republic flight.
Meanwhile, Wataru Endo is working to recover from his long-term injury to be fit in time to lead Japan.
However, Virgil van Dijk, Cody Gakpo, Ryan Gravenberch, Jeremie Frimpong, Ibrahima Konate, Florian Wirtz, Alexis Mac Allister, Alisson and Alexander Isak are expected to feature prominently for their respective nations.
With that in mind, here are the five Liverpool players we expect to shine the brightest this summer.
#5 Mohamed Salah
The ‘Egyptian King’ enters what will be his second and almost certainly his last FIFA World Cup. Following a disappointing season by stratospheric standards – one that saw Jamie Carragher become highly critical of him – Salah travels to North America with a massive point to prove.
As the captain and undisputed icon of Egypt, he will lead from the front. With his future at the top level often debated, the 33-year-old remains keen to continue playing in Europe, and there is no better stage than this to show the world’s biggest suitors that his reign is far from over.
Egypt are in Group G with Belgium, Iran and New Zealand.
#4 Alexander Isak
Isak’s debut season at Anfield has been a harrowing one. A British-record £125million move from Newcastle was marred by a broken leg that kept him out for months and other fitness issues. He has struggled for match sharpness since returning, but the World Cup offers a vital platform to regain his form.
With Graham Potter now leading the charge for Sweden, the centre-forward has a manager who knows exactly how to build a system around his unique talents. This could be the summer he reminds the world he is still one of the most clinical strikers on the planet.
Sweden are in Group F with the Netherlands, Japan and Tunisia.
#3 Ibrahima Konate
It has been an incredibly difficult season for Konate, both on and off the pitch. Between the heartbreaking passing of his father and the uncertainty surrounding his contract extension, his form has understandably fluctuated at times.
Despite these struggles, he is expected to be a primary leader for France this summer. As one of the heavy favourites to win the whole thing, Les Bleus will rely on Konate’s physical dominance to anchor a defence looking to go one step further than 2022.
France are in Group I with Senegal, Iraq and Norway.
#2 Cody Gakpo
It is fair to say Liverpool fans have been vocal in their criticism of Gakpo this season. With a drop in consistent output, he has struggled for rhythm and often looked like a shadow of the player who dominated the Eredivisie before his move to Anfield in 2023.
However, ‘Tournament Cody’ is a different beast entirely. He remains the standout attacking option for the Dutch, ahead of Donyell Malen and Brian Brobbey. The 26-year-old notably scored thrice in the previous edition of the World Cup in Qatar. A big summer could be the springboard he needs to finally show the Reds what is to come next season.
The Netherlands are in Group F with Sweden, Japan and Tunisia.
#1 Florian Wirtz
Let’s be honest, Wirtz has not quite reached the blockbuster heights many expected following his move £116m move from Bayer Leverkusen last summer. Burdened by that massive price tag, his first year at Anfield has been a quiet one by his standards. Yet, under Julian Nagelsmann, he remains the undisputed lynchpin of the German national team.
This World Cup is his chance to prove he is far from the flop his detractors claim; expect him to use the North American stage to remind everyone exactly why Liverpool broke the bank for him.
I would not be surprised if he is in the mix to bag the Golden Ball, too.
Germany are in Group E with Curacao, Ivory Coast and Ecuador.
