2025-10-16 11:31:38

Jude Bellingham is to speak with Thomas Tuchel about playing for England in the 2026 World Cup.

The Real Madrid midfielder 22, was omitted from the manager’s Three Lions squad after Bellingham missed much of the season following a shoulder surgery, but Tuchel has now insisted he has no issue with Bellingham and will speak with him about potentially joining the team.

When asked whether he would reach out to Bellingham, the 52-year-old manager said: “I guess so, why not? Of course. He is a big player, an important player.

“I will speak to a lot of the guys, and to the guys who get texts from me who are not in camp, because these players who are here now feel the reward, and it is necessary too that I stay in contact with the other guys.”

Bellingham’s England teammates recently conceded it was strange not having him around in camp this month, but Tuchel insisted “there are a lot of players out there who deserve to be with us”.

He said: “We have Conor Gallagher, we have Trevoh Chalobah, we have Cole Palmer injured.

“So there are a lot of players out there who deserve to be with us, who are hungry and determined to be with us. It has to be like that.”

Even so, Tuchel insisted it was “non-negotionable” for every player to buy into the team’s comradery and his vision.

As well Bellingham, the head coach left out the likes of Phil Foden, 25, Jack Grealish, 30, and Adam Wharton, 21, but Tuchel has “no doubt” these players would have any trouble intergrating themselves into his squad.

He said: “I am sure that if we invite them, we are sure that they will buy in.

“It is not a punishment, they have not done anything wrong, and I feel that when I text them and speak to them, that everyone is keen to come back – this is how it has to be.

“I have trust in more players than are just here.”

After England booked their place in the World Cup following their 5-0 win over Latvia on Tuesday (14.10.25), Tuchel is confident the Three Lions have what it takes to win the tournament.

He said of a potential England victory: “Yes, it is a possibility. I cannot promise that we will win it, but we will get there with a strong team, a strong cohesion, and with the right spirit – it is building on the pitch and this is the basis for all of it.”

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