What happened: Liverpool's key assets are making immediate impacts at the 2026 World Cup, with Alexander Isak, Virgil van Dijk, and Florian Wirtz all recording goal contributions in their opening fixtures. Isak led Sweden with a goal and two assists against Tunisia, while Van Dijk scored his first major tournament goal for the Netherlands, and Wirtz served as Germany's creative engine in a dominant win over Curaçao.

Why it matters: The strong international form of these stars validates Liverpool's high-profile recruitment strategy and provides momentum heading into the new era at Anfield. Their collective success on the global stage highlights the caliber of talent currently driving the club's rebuild under the 2026 project.

What to watch: Sweden faces South Korea on June 19, while Germany and the Netherlands look to secure knockout stage berths in their second group matches.