Manager Thomas Tuchel has selected both Jude and Jobe Bellingham for the England national team, marking the time the brothers will be called up together for the senior squad, detikSport reported. The inclusion of Jobe, who plays for Borussia Dortmund, comes as a surprise and fills a gap in midfield caused by players being unavailable.
England will face Croatia on Friday, November 13, and Spain on Monday, November 16, in the continuing group stage of the UEFA Nations League. The 25-man squad was announced on Friday, November 6, 2026, and includes several notable absences, most notably Chelsea’s Cole Palmer.
Jobe Bellingham’s Midfield Role
“We have a small problem in midfield because Alex Scott is not ready, and Myles Lewis-Skelly, who played in all four games, got a yellow card and will be suspended for the game against Croatia, so we are short of players,” Tuchel said, according to ESPN UK. He added that Lee Carsley has praised Jobe’s recent performances, making this an opportunity for him to learn at the senior level.
“Lee Carsley has praised him a lot in recent weeks and months, so there is an opportunity for him to come and learn with the senior team. He is in good form at Borussia Dortmund,” Tuchel stated. “So we have 21 outfield players for the first game and maybe 22 for the second.”
“We see Jobe as a central midfielder, not an attacking player like Jude,” Tuchel said, as reported by the BBC. “This is a fantastic achievement for their family. I am very happy to call him up, and I can see how enthusiastic he is. He is one of five central midfielders, with a style of play that is more defensive than Jude’s. He is strong in possession and physically, and he knows how to control the ball.”
Cole Palmer’s Ongoing Absence
Palmer has only played three times for the national team under Tuchel’s management, and his absence for the upcoming Nations League fixtures is not due to a lack of form for his club.
Officials from Wembley contacted Chelsea to confirm Palmer’s availability, and he was deemed fit to play. Despite this, he was not selected. “Tuchel is disappointed because he has faced similar situations with Palmer several times,” Kompas.id reported. “Palmer was actually fit to play for Chelsea right before and after the international break.”
This decision highlights a complex relationship between Tuchel and Palmer. “No, we haven’t discussed that. We talked about our game on Sunday,” Alonso said, as quoted by football.london. He did praise Palmer’s club form, saying, “We are very happy with Cole; I think he enjoys his game. He has a very good partnership with the other attacking players. He helps the team. He also helps the team develop and improve according to what we want to achieve, with the understanding that everything takes time.”
The decision to overlook Palmer in favor of a debutant like 19-year-old Josh King from Fulham underscores Tuchel’s priority on availability, even when a player is performing well at the club level.
Tuchel Includes Alexander-Arnold While Saka Misses Out
While the Bellingham brothers’ inclusion and Palmer’s omission are the main talking points, Tuchel’s squad features other significant decisions. The return of defender Trent Alexander-Arnold to the squad, after he was notably absent from the World Cup squad, suggests that any previous rift has been mended. Kompas.id noted that Alexander-Arnold “was rumored to have a less harmonious relationship with Tuchel after being dropped from the World Cup squad. However, he was brought back into the latest squad.”
Phil Foden, who has 49 England caps but was also left out of the World Cup squad, remains on the outside. Maresca expressed satisfaction with Foden’s recent performances at City while acknowledging his potential for further growth. “He is playing well. Honestly, he is playing well,” Maresca said. “I don’t know the reason why he is not called up to the national team, but we are happy with Phil. We know he can give a lot more, we are very sure of that. It has become my job to help him slowly to come back and become one of the best.”
Thomas Tuchel on Jude & Jobe Bellingham’s roles 🎙️: “We see him [Jobe] in the central midfield, not as offensive as Jude. I think in general it's an incredible achievement for the family and for the brothers to be both nominated for their national team which is an incredible… pic.twitter.com/Sf4bSDhc5y”
What’s Next for England
With the squad finalized, England’s immediate focus is on two crucial Nations League matches. First, they travel to face Croatia on Friday, November 13, 2026. Following that, they host Spain at Wembley on Monday, November 16, 2026. Both games are vital in the ongoing battle for top position in their UEFA Nations League group.
The next official update on the squad will likely come after these matches, with manager Tuchel expected to provide an assessment of the players’ performances and availability for the next international window.
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