Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham is hoping to rejoin the England squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers, but acknowledges the decision is not his to make. Bellingham has been sidelined with a shoulder injury that required surgery in mid-July, causing him to miss England's previous four matches.
England is set to face Serbia on November 13th and Albania on November 16th in the final World Cup qualifying matches. The Three Lions have already secured their place at the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. These upcoming qualifiers will be the last international break before the tournament.
Bellingham's shoulder issues date back to November 2023, when he dislocated it during a match against Rayo Vallecano. Despite the injury, he continued to play through the pain, helping Real Madrid win both La Liga and the Champions League in the 2023-24 season. However, after a less successful 2024-25 season, the decision was made for Bellingham to undergo surgery.
Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso included Bellingham in the matchday squad for their Champions League opener against Marseille in September, indicating that he had received medical clearance. However, it was deemed unlikely that Bellingham would start matches for a few weeks, making it difficult for him to be included in the England squad for the September qualifiers against Wales and Latvia. Real Madrid may also have requested that Bellingham be left out to avoid risking another injury.
England manager Thomas Tuchel opted to exclude Bellingham from the October international break to allow him to fully recover his fitness. Bellingham had not yet played a full 90 minutes for Real Madrid by the end of September. Tuchel said that Bellingham had "not quite gathered his full rhythm again" but also noted that Bellingham wanted to be called up.
Bellingham's last appearance for England was in June in a loss to Senegal. Following that match, there were reports of tension between Bellingham and Tuchel, with Tuchel describing Bellingham's on-field behavior as "repulsive," although he later apologized for the remark.
Despite the earlier concerns, reports now indicate that Bellingham has been recalled to the England squad for the November World Cup qualifiers. As the team prepares for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Tuchel is focused on balancing player preparation with their health and fitness. Bellingham's return to the squad could provide a significant boost as England aims to fine-tune its preparations for the upcoming tournament.
England will host Serbia at Wembley Stadium on November 13th, with the match kicking off at 7:45 PM GMT. Following the game against Serbia, England will travel to Albania for their final group game. ITV will broadcast the England v Serbia game live.
