While the 2026 FIFA World Cup frenzy takes over North America, clubs back in Europe are not taking the time to put their feet up either. It is the transfer market season after all.
Teams have wasted no time in making some big money moves, with Marc Cucurella making his way to Real Madrid while Tottenham have signed Brighton center back Jan Paul van Hecke.
Liverpool have now joined the high-stakes game too, acquiring Victor Munoz from Osasuna for a reported £34.5 million.
The left-winger seemed to be on his way to Newcastle until the Merseyside giants hijacked the deal, making Munoz the first signing of the Andoni Iraola era.
Victor Munoz Is Already at the World Cup
Munoz made the switch to Osasuna from Real Madrid at the start of the 2025/26 season.
Here, the winger truly came of age, scoring seven goals and providing five assists in 36 appearances across the season.
Munoz’s speed particularly grabbed eyeballs, with Marca ranking him as La Liga’s fourth quickest player ahead of the likes of Kylian Mbappe and Lamine Yamal.
Apparently, the news of Munoz’s rapid ascension did not thoroughly make its way across the Bay of Biscay.
While the 22-year-old made headlines in La Liga, he remained a largely unknown entity globally.
But with Munoz now set to wear Red from the upcoming season, Liverpool fans have set about on business and their findings have come as a revelation.
Unbeknownst to most of them, Munoz earned a Spain call-up in March 2026.
He scored on his debut game against Serbia in a friendly. Despite accruing just two caps, the raw talent of Munoz was convincing enough for head coach Luis de la Fuente to put him on the plane to America for the World Cup.
And Liverpool fans, who barely knew anything about Munoz till a few hours ago, are still coming to terms with the fact. As one user on X asked point-blank, “Is he in the [Spain] WC squad?”
He was quickly assured by a fellow fan that Munoz is in fact with the Spain squad presently.
Oh is he in the 🇪🇸 WC squad? https://t.co/oFPajHnqpx
— Phil (oh his name is Diogo) (@PhilPhenom) June 18, 2026
However, now that they have found out, fans are using the fact to justify the sheer quality of the signing.
“One senior season and called up for the Spanish national team for the world cup. How is anyone complaining?” A user on X pointedly wrote.
“From Osasuna, imagine”, another replied, given the fact that Munoz would become just the sixth player from the club to play in a World Cup.
Some Liverpool fans have gone even further. Their newly obtained knowledge of Munoz representing Spain at the World Cup has been repurposed to highlight the sheer pull their club possesses as compared to fellow suitors Newcastle.
“We hijacked their top target while the kid is literally at the World Cup. Welcome to a big club, Víctor Muñoz!” A fan wrote on X.
Will Victor Munoz get to play in World Cup
Munoz is yet to get any minutes, and was an unused substitute in Spain’s shock opening draw against Cape Verde in Atlanta.
Spain have two more group stage games to go, against Saudi Arabia and Uruguay respectively. And if things go to plan, they’ll have a few more fixtures to play still thereafter. With the campaign set to be a grueling test of intensity and character, Munoz is bound to get minutes at some point.
But latest reports from Spain camp have put a dampener on Liverpool fans’ chances of seeing their new signing in action.
As it turns out, Munoz suffered a setback while recovering from the muscle discomfort and hamstring issues he carried to Spain Camp. Thus, his participation in La Roja’s game against Saudi Arabia on Sunday is in doubt.
So, we are not sure if Munoz ends getting on the pitch at any point in this World Cup, but if he does, he will have an army of Red fans cheering heartily for him.
