Jude Bellingham will likely be the first name on Thomas Tuchel’s teamsheet when England kick off their 2026 World Cup campaign against Croatia. Bukayo Saka, meanwhile, is in a race against his own body.
Bellingham takes the 10, and everything that comes with it
Tuchel’s decision to hand Bellingham the No. 10 shirt for the tournament tells you everything you need to know about the pecking order. Bellingham has backed up the assignment during England’s pre-tournament preparations, looking sharp in warm-up activities and training sessions. The Real Madrid midfielder is now appearing in his second World Cup.
England’s final tune-up before the tournament, a 3-0 victory against Costa Rica in early June, provided exactly the kind of confidence boost Tuchel wanted.
Saka’s Achilles problem isn’t going away quietly
