Manager Thomas Tuchel has asserted that Jude Bellingham still has to compete for a spot in England’s starting lineup at the 2026 World Cup, despite the midfielder’s impressive performance in the 1-0 victory over New Zealand.
In the friendly match held in Tampa, Bellingham did not start as Tuchel handed Morgan Rogers the opportunity to play in the attacking midfielder role behind Harry Kane. However, the Real Madrid star made an impact after coming on at the start of the second half.
Despite highly rating Bellingham’s ability, the German tactician stated that not many positions are absolutely guaranteed in the England squad before their opening group match against Croatia.
“Jude is one of the players with the capability to start. But right now, we have about 14 to 15 players capable of starting. He is part of that group,” Tuchel shared.
The 52-year-old manager also revealed that Declan Rice will be England’s vice-captain at the 2026 World Cup. Previously, Bellingham wore the captain’s armband in the second half of the match against New Zealand, but Tuchel explained that this was simply because he was the player with the most international caps on the pitch at that time.
“I can confirm that Declan Rice is the vice-captain of the team. I informed him of that beforehand,” Tuchel stated.
In addition, the England manager assessed that Bellingham is in very good physical and mental condition after a spell on the sidelines due to injury.
“He is full of energy, very determined, and hungry to get back on the pitch. Jude is in good physical shape and has shown positive signs in training sessions,” Tuchel remarked.
Meanwhile, captain Harry Kane expressed concern over the quality of the pitches at the 2026 World Cup following the win against New Zealand. The England forward believed that the grass in Tampa did not meet ideal conditions, which affected the team’s ability to execute a fast-paced playing style.
“The pitch wasn’t really good. We want to play fast and handle the ball sharply, but that wasn’t always possible. These will be the challenges that the team must adapt to during the tournament,” Kane shared.
