Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp will begin his latest job this month
Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp will be back on the sidelines with a new job during the World Cup – as a pundit. The German icon is “tingling” with excitement to be back pitchside for the tournament, which takes place across the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Following his Anfield exit in 2024, Klopp began working as head of global football at Red Bull. Now, in addition to his ambassadorial work for Budweiser, the former Reds boss will be offering his expert views from on the ground across the Atlantic.
Klopp announced his work for German broadcaster Magenta TV on social media, teasing fans with a post that hinted at a return to management. Writing on Instagram in November 2025, the 58-year-old said: “Grass underfoot, stadium atmosphere, very close! Back to the sideline, I’m looking forward to it!”
In the video posted, he added: “Many of you have always known better. But I truly couldn’t envision it for myself. Going back to the sideline? I don’t miss anything. This is what I always thought. But now it is tingling again.
Get the latest World Cup news straight to your inbox by signing up to our Make Football Great Again newsletter now!
“Grass underneath my feet. The heated atmosphere in the stadium. And I want to be really close again.”
Revealing his punditry work, Klopp explained: “Oh? No, not as a manager. I am becoming a pundit for Magenta TV at the FIFA World Cup 2026.”
He then spoke to German TV host Johannes B. Kerner about his new job, adding: “Hi Johannes. I’m in! See you on June 11 in Mexico! Cool sentence. Except for Indiana Jones, probably nobody can say it.”
While fans may be disappointed that Klopp is not returning to the dugout, his wealth of experience will be priceless at the major tournament. The World Cup will kick off with Mexico vs South Africa on June 11 at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. And it’s likely that Klopp will begin his punditry duties straight away, having posted on Instagram from Mexico City with his Magenta TV colleagues in anticipation of the opening match.
His native Germany, on the other hand, will not be in action until Sunday, June 14, when they take on Curacao at 6pm UK time (1pm ET) in their opening match.
Klopp wished his former Reds and some current stars the best of luck at the World Cup, singling out Florian Wirtz, Andy Robertson and Alisson Becker in particular. He said: “I hope Flo Wirtz will have a fantastic, fantastic World Cup. I think he has everything you need to be a standout player.
“I don’t want to put any pressure on the boy. I really think he showed already how good he can be in a difficult season. I hope my players will have a great World Cup.
“I hope that Andy Robertson and Alisson Becker can enjoy that when they meet each other. Can you imagine that you play together for such a long time and Scotland qualifies first time, I don’t know, since when, for the World Cup, and you meet each other, your friends, your mutual friends, and you meet each other in a game like that? I mean, that must be one of the happiest moments in your life.”
Highlighting other Reds in action at the major tournament, Klopp added: “I wish Virgil [van Dijk] will have a great tournament. I really wish for Mo [Salah] that he will have a great tournament. I honestly wish that Sadio [Mane] will have a great tournament.
“Macca [Alexis Mac Allister], if he won, if they win it again. It was so nice to see him with a medal around his neck and when he came back to Brighton.”
Upgrade your World Cup TV setup with the Sky Glass ‘designed for football’
from £4.50
Sky
Get the deal here
Sky is knocking 20% off its entire range of Glass TVs to mark the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Until June 17, shoppers can upgrade to the Sky smart TV that’s ‘designed for football’ from £4.50 per month when taken alongside a Sky TV and Netflix package.
