England manager Thomas Tuchel has stated that Jude Bellingham is among a group of 14 to 15 potential starters for the FIFA World Cup, emphasizing the intense competition for places in a highly talented squad.
Bellingham Faces Strong Competition
The 22-year-old Real Madrid midfielder featured in only four of England's qualifying matches, while Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers appeared in all eight. This highlights the fierce battle for the attacking midfield role as Tuchel evaluates his options ahead of the tournament.
"Yes, he has. He knows he is one of the starters, but we have 14 or 15 potential starters. These roles can always change, but at the moment I think there are 14 or 15 proper starters and Jude is one of them," Tuchel said, as reported by Reuters.
Preparations in Florida
England are continuing their World Cup preparations in Florida, where they began their warm-up campaign with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over New Zealand in Tampa. Harry Kane scored the solitary goal. Bellingham captained the side for the first time in the second half as Tuchel rotated his squad to manage the challenging hot and humid conditions.
Tuchel Encouraged by Bellingham's Form
Despite the competition, Tuchel expressed encouragement with Bellingham's recent form since returning from injury. "He looks good in training. I think he is at the moment in a sweet spot because he has had his break and has the hunger to be back on the pitch," he added.
England's World Cup 2026 Group and Fixtures
England, one-time World Cup winners, are in Group L alongside Croatia, Ghana, and Panama. They will face Croatia in Arlington, Texas, on June 18 to start their campaign. Argentina are the reigning champions after winning the 2022 tournament in Qatar.
England's World Cup 2026 Squad
- Goalkeepers: Dean Henderson, Jordan Pickford, James Trafford.
- Defenders: Dan Burn, Marc Guehi, Reece James, Ezri Konsa, Tino Livramento, Nico O'Reilly, Jarell Quansah, Djed Spence, John Stones.
- Midfielders: Elliott Anderson, Jude Bellingham, Eberechi Eze, Jordan Henderson, Kobbie Mainoo, Declan Rice, Morgan Rogers.
- Forwards: Anthony Gordon, Harry Kane, Noni Madueke, Marcus Rashford, Bukayo Saka, Ivan Toney, Ollie Watkins.
England's Group L Fixtures
- 17 June: England v Croatia - Dallas Stadium
- 23 June: England v Ghana - Boston Stadium
- 27 June: Panama v England - New York New Jersey Stadium
