Bellingham and Foden Miss Out on England’s World Cup Squad
On October 8, 2025, Jude Bellingham was honored as England’s men’s Player of the Year for the 2024-25 season. However, just two days later, he was not included in the squad for the upcoming World Cup.
England’s coach, Thomas Tuchel, cited Bellingham’s limited playing time at Real Madrid following summer shoulder surgery as a key reason for his exclusion. The 22-year-old has only played one full match in four appearances this season. However, the issue may be more complex than it seems.
Tuchel has emphasized the urgency of solidifying the team ahead of the FIFA World Cup next year, suggesting that it’s crucial to bring key players together frequently. He regarded September’s training camp as the best of his coaching period, attributing the impressive 5-0 win against Serbia in Belgrade to the team’s positive chemistry over the nine days they spent training together.
When announcing the squad for October, Tuchel maintained most of the players from September’s roster while replacing the injured Noni Madueke with Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka. Jarell Quansah and Ruben Loftus-Cheek have been brought in from the start after being called up for last month’s matches due to absences. Interestingly, Saka hasn’t completed a match for Arsenal since the start of the season.
“Team spirit is what ultimately matters,” Tuchel mentioned. “Our goal is to qualify for the tournament.” He added, “I believe the fans can sense that we have a team willing to work hard for each other.”
However, leaving out Bellingham, recognized as England’s top player in the past year, raises significant questions. Are there deeper reasons behind this decision?
Exploring Other Options
When asked if England could still win the World Cup without Bellingham, Tuchel reframed the discussion, acknowledging Bellingham’s importance but emphasizing the team’s need to be adaptable. “Do I believe we are stronger with Jude? Absolutely. But what will we do if he gets injured right before the World Cup? The show has to go on,” he said.
Bellingham, an exceptionally talented midfielder, seems indispensable to England’s success. The team has won 26 out of 42 matches with him and has even better statistics without him—13 wins, 6 draws, and just one loss. His unique ability to influence the game is unmatched in the squad.
Nevertheless, Tuchel’s stance that it’s essential to find alternatives in case of injuries is noteworthy. He has predominantly used a 4-2-3-1 formation. Meanwhile, Bellingham is recovering from an ankle injury sustained while scoring against Villarreal.
Teammate Gordon acknowledged Bellingham’s absence is felt significantly, stating, “He is such a major presence, but he has had a challenging few months with injuries. Time off may actually benefit him, considering how much football he has played at his age.”
Gordon concluded, “If he’s regularly playing for Real Madrid, he’ll undoubtedly be in the England squad.”
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