England are heading into the 2026 World Cup with Thomas Tuchel showing he will not bend to stars, and Jude Bellingham now has to prove he still deserves a starting place. Tuchel surprised many last month by leaving out Harry Maguire, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Phil Foden and Cole Palmer from his 26-man squad for the tournament in the United States. England’s squad is valued at more than 1.3 billion euros by Transfermarkt, second only to France among Tuchel’s rivals.
The main question is Bellingham, who only two years ago looked like England’s automatic centerpiece after leading Real Madrid to La Liga and Champions League glory in his first season and helping England reach the Euro 2024 final in Berlin. Since Tuchel took charge officially in January 2025, Bellingham has started only four matches. Morgan Rogers, Aston Villa’s rising midfielder, has instead become Tuchel’s preferred option and has played in almost every match under him over the last year and a half.
Bellingham’s case has been complicated by injury and form. He did not start the season because of shoulder surgery, missed September’s international window, returned in October but still was not selected, and in November Tuchel criticized him for reacting angrily after being substituted against Albania. Tuchel also called his performance against Senegal in June “repulsive,” later saying he had used the wrong word and apologizing. His club season in Madrid was uneven, with reports of a poor relationship with Xabi Alonso, a recovery under Álvaro Arbeloa, and then another dip after Madrid were eliminated by Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarterfinals and lost the Spanish league title to Barcelona.
Still, Bellingham impressed in England’s 1-0 friendly win over New Zealand, where he was the team’s best player and wore the captain’s armband when Declan Rice and Harry Kane were off the pitch. Asked whether he will start at the World Cup, Tuchel said Bellingham is in “top shape” and added, “I believe there are 14 or 15 players who can start, and Jude is one of them.” England’s hopes may depend on whether Tuchel restores him to a central role.
