England coach Thomas Tuchel has stated that Jude Bellingham will have to compete for a spot in England’s starting XI at the World Cup, stressing that the squad now has “14 or 15 potential starters” across all positions.
Bellingham, a key character for England at Euro 2024, has had a more irregular involvement since Tuchel took over in January 2025.
The Real Madrid midfielder has started only four games under the new boss and made three more substitute appearances, with injuries and conditioning difficulties limiting his availability at times.
Tuchel insisted that Bellingham remains firmly in his plans but emphasized that no player is guaranteed a spot.
The England gaffer was quoted as saying, “Yes, he has a fight on his hands,” Tuchel said when asked about the midfielder’s starting prospects. “He is one of the starters; he knows he is one of the starters, but we have 14 or 15 potential starters.”
The England boss has instead regularly relied on Morgan Rogers, who has emerged as one of the squad’s most consistent players since Tuchel’s arrival.
Rogers has appeared in 12 of 13 matches under the German coach, and he is the only player to have appeared in all eight of England’s World Cup qualifying games.
Despite this, Tuchel stressed that the situation is flexible, with positions still open ahead of the competition.
The struggle for places is anticipated to heat up as England finalizes its preparations, with squad depth in midfield and attacking positions viewed as one of their greatest assets.
Tuchel’s comments highlight both England’s increasing depth and the difficulty of balancing high-profile talent with tactical stability.
Midfielder Declan Rice is anticipated to be a major figure and vice-captain throughout the tournament, bringing stability to a highly competitive midfield group.
As the World Cup approaches, Tuchel’s message is clear: notoriety alone will not guarantee a starting spot.
Even known talents like Bellingham will have to earn their place in a group where competition for every position is fierce.
