Bellingham stands out with a 10 in the England training camp before the World Cup.

Jude Bellingham stole the spotlight during the England national team’s training camp in Florida, pushing Morgan Rogers into the background in the battle for the number 10 shirt. The Real Madrid midfielder, who has been the center of attention in recent days, may have secured a place in Thomas Tuchel’s starting eleven for the World Cup opener after an authoritative and decisive performance against Costa Rica, where he was praised not only for his technical skills but also for his leadership and commitment.

The England national team wrapped up its stay in West Palm Beach with a clear 3-0 victory over Costa Rica in their second warm-up match for the 2026 World Cup. The camp, which lasted twelve days in the humid and scorching Florida climate, was designed by the coaching staff to force players to quickly adapt to the extreme conditions they may encounter during the tournament. Although the temperatures were below expectations in the early days, with heavy rain and overcast skies, the situation changed in Tampa and Orlando, where the heat never dropped below 30 degrees Celsius, truly testing the players’ physical limits.

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The squad, which is now heading to Kansas City before settling permanently in Missouri, is in enviable physical condition. Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham, who arrived at the training camp with some concerns due to injuries and accumulated fatigue from the Euro two years ago, appear revitalized and ready to lead the team. However, not all news is good: Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice, both from Arsenal, arrived later due to club commitments and have been managed carefully due to physical issues. Thomas Tuchel has already warned that Saka is unlikely to last the full 90 minutes in the first matches, while Rice insists he feels in perfect condition. “I felt very good after the game against Costa Rica; it was important to test our resilience with the delays caused by the thunderstorm and the floods. This could happen again in the World Cup, and now we know what to expect,” the midfielder stated after the match.

The main topic of discussion within the group revolves around the number 10 position. Morgan Rogers seemed to have a clear advantage just ten days ago, having been a regular choice throughout the qualification – he played all eight matches, while Bellingham participated in only half. However, the dynamics shifted during the friendlies held in the USA, with Bellingham standing out not only for his offensive impact but also for his work rate off the ball. Tuchel himself did not hide his satisfaction: “Bellingham showed an intensity and leadership far beyond expectations, especially without the ball. The fact that he wore the captain’s armband in these two games is indicative of the confidence we have in him,” the German coach stated after the match in Orlando.

Bellingham’s presence in the starting eleven now seems almost guaranteed, but Tuchel makes it clear that both he and Rogers will have opportunities throughout the tournament. “We will need everyone. There are no undisputed starters in this group – whoever is performing better plays,” the coach emphasized.

England’s meticulous preparation, which even included collective viewing sessions of the reality show ‘Love Island’ to strengthen team spirit, could be crucial in a competition where physical and mental fatigue is immense. With the training camp in Florida coming to an end, the England squad heads to Missouri confident that they are ready to face any adversity. The next challenge is the debut in the World Cup, where Bellingham is expected to lead operations from midfield and confirm on the pitch the favoritism he is starting to gain behind the scenes.

If Bellingham continues to show this form, England may finally dare to dream big and break their long title drought. It remains to be seen whether Tuchel’s bet on the youth and intensity of the Real Madrid midfielder will be enough to overcome heavyweight rivals and lead the English to the top of world football. What is certain is that, after an intense preparation and risky decisions, few teams are as well-prepared – both physically and psychologically – for the World Cup as this England.

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