Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola will continue an audit of his Reds squad during pre-season and could be handed another defensive option early on in the new Premier League season, without splashing out in the transfer window.

Sunderland and Wrexham await for Liverpool in pre-season friendly action later this month before the league campaign begins in earnest with a trip to Newcastle United next month.

Arne Slot managed to do the double over the Magpies last season, but conceded four goals in the process of claiming those victories, forced to play midfielders Dominik Szoboszlai and Curtis Jones as makeshift right-backs. Iraola does not want to be left in the same position.

Liverpool handed ‘nice surprise’ in injury boost

Liverpool journalist David Lynch has outlined that the club is ‘absolutely adamant’ that they will not be left short in the right-back position next season.

The Reds had to make do without the services of academy product Conor Bradley from January onwards last term, after the defender picked up a knee injury.

Lynch claims that the 23-year-old has made quick progress on his recovery this summer, in a ‘nice surprise’ for Iraola. He said: “Conor Bradley, as I’m told, is targeting a return shortly after the start of the season, so he’s not a million miles away, which might be a nice surprise for some of you. But they’re not relying on him. They know they’ve got to take it slow. They’ve got to be very, very careful with him.

“They also know that [Jeremie] Frimpong, they don’t want him to play too many games at right-back, they want him to be available to play up and down occasionally as a versatile utility man. They don’t want to say, you’re the back-up right-back. They are going to find solutions, as I understand it.”

Liverpool stance on right-back recruitment

Lynch believes that, while a new addition at right-back is possible, Liverpool may look to think outside the box when it comes to adding strength in depth.

It’s touted that Liverpool could stand firm over the future of Joe Gomez, and officially make the 29-year-old a back-up option in that position. Gomez is entering the final year of his contract at Anfield, and has been linked with Premier League rivals Aston Villa.

If Liverpool are to invest, the priority would be to ensure that any incoming would be comfortable playing both centrally and at right-back. While new boy Jeremy Jacquet is adept at playing either side of centre-back, he does not have experience on the flank.

By the end of the week, the winner of the 2026 World Cup will be known. A record 48 teams have taken part in the summer tournament, but only one will walk away with the iconic trophy.

The finalists are Argentina and Spain. Lionel Messi’s men are aiming to win their second successive World Cup after beating England 2-1 in their semi-final, while Lamine Yamal and co are hoping to win the competition for the third time in Spanish history, having overcome France in the prior round.

The game will take place on Sunday, 19 July, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. It could go either way, but former player and current pundit Zlatan Ibrahimovic has confidently named his predicted winner.

Ibrahimovic Backs Spain To ‘Dominate’ World Cup Final

Zlatan Ibrahimovic via REUTERS/Stephane Mahe

Former Sweden striker Ibrahimovic has not shied away from making some big claims while working for Fox Sports this summer. He tore into England boss Thomas Tuchel after Argentina’s semi-final victory, and has now made another bold statement.

Indeed, the pundit has confidently predicted that Spain will ‘dominate’ the final on their way to World Cup glory. He explained:

Ibrahimovic isn’t the only legendary former footballer to predict a World Cup winner. Indeed, a number of ex-players-turned-pundits have made their claims. England striker of the past, for example, Michael Owen believes Spain are a ‘lot better.’

Agreeing with Ibrahimovic, Owen said: “Argentina have had quite a lucky path through to the semi-finals. They made hard work of Cape Verde, they made hard work of Egypt, they scored last-minute goals against England. We probably let them through as opposed to beating us and I don’t think they’ve been very impressive throughout the tournament.

“Whereas Spain are impressive, that performance against France was pure class; that was a serious performance against a great opponent. I think Spain are a lot better than Argentina and I expect them to win the World Cup and deservedly so.”

John Terry praised Argentina but also backed Spain, noting, “They were so together, they’ve got grit about them,” but I still think Spain will edge it.” While Scottish football icon Graeme Souness had a similar take: “I think it’s a hard one to call. We’ve seen what Argentina are about.

“Spain, for me, are the favourites but I find it really hard to rule out Argentina because they can dig deep, you write them off at your peril. “I put Spain as the slight favourites but having played against plenty of Argentinian players, I know how mentally tough they are. They are proper footballers from a tough nation.”

Former Real Madrid and Costa Rica goalkeeper Keylor Navas, however, has backed Argentina because of Messi. He said: “In a final as evenly matched as this one, it’s hard to call either team the favourite because both are outstanding sides. But if I have to pick one, I’d choose Argentina because they have Messi.”

Spain appear to be the favourites for many, but as Navas points out, it would be unwise to rule out any team with Messi on board.

The biggest World Cup in history is about to bow out in style as FIFA has announced the entertainment plans for the final.

FIFA has confirmed the closing ceremony for the 2026 final will take place on Sunday, July 19, at New York New Jersey Stadium — and it’s shaping up to be a spectacle that pushes the pre-match show well beyond anything a men’s final has served up before.

There’s also the halftime show which will look to rival the scenes we typically see from the Super Bowl Final as football takes a leaf out of the book of its American brother. Here’s everything you need to know.

World Cup 2026 Closing Ceremony Time

Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Fans who are excited for the entertainment will need to prepare themselves early, as the closing ceremony begins at 1:30 p.m. local time, roughly 90 minutes before kickoff of the final, which gets underway at 3:00 p.m. ET. For UK viewers, that means a 6:30 p.m. BST start, with the match to follow at 8 p.m.

On the ground, the stadium gates open at 11 a.m. local time, four hours before the match, and FIFA has been keen to stress that fans in the stands will play an active role in the show, encouraging an atmosphere worthy of the occasion.

The whole thing is produced in partnership with Balich Wonder Studio, the creative outfit behind several major international ceremonies, including the opening and closing shows at the 2022 Qatar World Cup.

Who Will Perform at the 2026 World Cup Closing Ceremony?

REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque via Action Images

FIFA haven’t held back in bringing the superstar names to the final. Most notably, one of the cinema greats in Tom Cruise will make a special appearance during the pre-match festivities, while the likes of IShowSpeed, Laura Pausini, Nicole Scherzinger and Robbie Williams are all scheduled to perform.

Cruise’s involvement echoes his showstopping cameo at the closing ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympics — though FIFA is staying tight-lipped on exactly what he’ll do this time, but knowing the Mission Impossible star’s previous feats, it could mean anything from parachuting in to walking on top of the stadium, or both.

The theme is a familiar one. FIFA are celebrating the conclusion of the first-ever 48-team World Cup, bringing together music, culture and football after a month-long tournament spanning the United States, Canada and Mexico. In FIFA’s words, the ceremony aims to bring the tournament “full circle” before the champions are crowned.

More performers and special guests are expected to be announced in the days before the final, meaning the glittering lineup may yet grow. A key distinction, however, is that this is separate from the final’s headline act.

This is because, for the first time in men’s World Cup history, the match itself will feature a halftime show, with the likes of Madonna, BTS, Shakira and Justin Bieber attached. Fans are pointing towards the forced ‘Americanisation’ of the sacred competition, but it very much follows the added theatrics we saw at the inaugural FIFA Club World Cup last year.

Who is Singing the US National Anthem?

That honour falls to Jennifer Hudson, an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony winner — an artist who has achieved the full ‘EGOT’. Hudson will deliver the United States national anthem ahead of the final, billed by FIFA as a “special rendition.”

Given the weight of Super Bowl anthem moments down the years, expect this to be one of the afternoon’s most talked-about moments before a ball is even kicked.