Eight Liverpool players named in World Cup squads as Szoboszlai and Chiesa miss out

Eight Liverpool players have been confirmed in their respective national squads for the 2026 World Cup, to be held across the United States, Mexico and Canada, following the close of the squad submission deadline this week.

Goalkeeper Alisson Becker will represent Brazil, while the Netherlands contingent is the largest from Anfield, with Virgil van Dijk, Ryan Gravenberch and Cody Gakpo all included in the Dutch squad. Alexis Mac Allister travels with Argentina as reigning world champions, Florian Wirtz joins Germany’s roster, Wataru Endo heads to the tournament with Japan, and Alexander Isak will lead Sweden’s attack.

The call-ups come at the end of a difficult domestic season for Liverpool. The club finished only just inside the top five in the Premier League — surviving with the benefit of an additional Champions League place awarded to England for its high UEFA coefficient ranking — and manager Arne Slot was sacked by the Anfield hierarchy following an inconsistent campaign that came despite a record transfer outlay last summer.

Among those missing the tournament are Dominik Szoboszlai and Federico Chiesa, whose combined transfer fees totalled £108.5 million. Szoboszlai’s Hungary and Chiesa’s Italy both failed to qualify for the finals. Jeremie Frimpong was not selected by the Netherlands despite his country reaching the tournament, while Joe Gomez, Curtis Jones and Freddie Woodman were all overlooked by England. Conor Bradley’s Northern Ireland, Milos Kerkez’s Hungary and Stefan Bajcetic’s Serbia also did not qualify. Hugo Ekitike, eligible for France, was ruled out through injury, and Calvin Ramsey was not selected by Scotland.