Bellingham’s Spot on England’s World Cup Roster is in Doubt

Jude Bellingham was named England’s Men’s Player of the Year on October 1. One week later, it seems the young star’s spot on the World Cup roster is in doubt.

England Manager Thomas Tuchel shared with reporters that he is considering leaving the 22-year-old midfielder off his 2026 World Cup squad. While he acknowledged his impressive talent, the first-year boss also pointed out that Bellingham has missed significant time with a shoulder injury. 

That has prevented the Real Madrid midfielder from playing with this version of the Three Lions, and Tuchel believes it may be too late to include him now.

Consistency Over Star Power

Tuchel’s decision on the World Cup isn’t final, but he did drop Bellingham from the squad for the team’s upcoming matches. That led to some outcry from fans who believe the midfielder is the team’s best hope, but Tuchel isn’t convinced.

The manager continues to stress that he wants consistency as they head into the 2026 World Cup. He believes the time this squad has spent together is helping them play better as a team, which will make a massive difference in North America this summer.

Tuchel’s strategy breaks from those used in the past. England has no shortage of stars and has ensured they are all available for the World Cup and other international tournaments. However, despite the talent, England has continued to underperform, leading to plenty of frustration for fans hoping to see them return to their former glory.

Decision Far From Final

To his credit, Tuchel has been open about Bellingham, making his thoughts clear to the player and the media. While he continues to emphasize roster consistency, he has also stated that his decision is far from certain. 

This means that Bellingham still has a chance to earn his way onto the Three Lions squad. However, he’ll need to prove that his talent is worth more than his lack of experience. If he can shine with Real Madrid, public pressure could force England to at least hand him a reserve spot. That may be all the electric young player needs, as he’d have a chance to show he can quickly fit in with a starting squad that has been playing together for a long time.

Will England Need Bellingham?

The debate over Bellingham will likely rage on over the coming months, but the truth is this squad may not need him. They have looked fantastic with Tuchel at the helm, going undefeated through five qualifying matches. That includes a 5-0 beatdown of a good Serbian team, leading sportsbooks to take notice.

Soccer betting sites have England as a top-five favorite to win the 2026 World Cup, with odds not far behind favorite Spain. Those odds are set off the way England has been playing, showing bookmakers are far less concerned over Bellingham’s role with the team.