England head coach Thomas Tuchel warned that Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham faces a fight for a World Cup starting berth after missing half of the qualifiers. Morgan Rogers started every game, while Bellingham appeared in only four, leaving his place far from guaranteed in the squad.

During the friendly in Tampa, Bellingham out‑performed Rogers in the No 10 role, playing 45 minutes against New Zealand. He also wore the armband for the second half, becoming the most‑capped player on the pitch at that moment. Tuchel praised his training form and hunger after injury.

Tuchel declined to confirm Bellingham’s place in the senior leadership group, but he did name Declan Rice as vice‑captain when Harry Kane is absent. The coach described three tiers within the 26‑man squad: 14‑15 potential starters, a special core, and impact substitutes. Players will learn their status individually before the Croatia opener.

With at least two contenders for every position, Tuchel urged a ‘brotherhood’ mindset, stressing that players must push each other rather than wait for bench chances. The upcoming closed‑door match against Miami United and a 60‑70 minute test versus Costa Rica will shape the final hierarchy, leaving Bellingham’s starting fate undecided.