Jobe Bellingham has been handed his first senior England call-up, joining older brother Jude in Thomas Tuchel’s 25-man squad for this month’s UEFA Nations League matches against Croatia and Spain.
The 21-year-old Borussia Dortmund midfielder was promoted from the Under-21s on Friday 6 November, a reward for a much-improved second season in Germany that has followed a patient and at times difficult first year at Dortmund. If he wins his first cap, the Bellinghams will become the 22nd set of brothers to have played for England’s men’s senior team.
Fulham’s Josh King also receives a maiden call-up, while Cole Palmer, Phil Foden and Kobbie Mainoo are the headline omissions.
Key facts
- Player: Jobe Bellingham, 21, Borussia Dortmund midfielder
- Call-up: First senior England squad, named 6 November 2026
- Fixtures: England v Croatia, Wembley, Thursday 12 November; Spain v England, Metropolitano Stadium, Madrid, Sunday 15 November
- Youth record: Represented England at every level from Under-15 to Under-21, with 12 Under-21 appearances
- Milestone: A debut would make Jude and Jobe the 22nd pair of brothers capped by England’s men
Why Tuchel picked Jobe Bellingham
Tuchel was open about the practical side of the decision. Alex Scott is not yet ready to return, and Myles Lewis-Skelly, who featured in all four of England’s Nations League matches so far, is suspended for the Croatia game after picking up a yellow card. That left England light in central midfield, with Tuchel saying he would have 21 outfield players available for the first match and possibly 22 for the second.
But the selection is about more than numbers. Under-21 head coach Lee Carsley has been pushing Jobe’s case for months, and the midfielder has become a regular for Dortmund this season, having started six of the club’s first eight Bundesliga matches. Jobe has captained the Young Lions since September 2025 and was selected ahead of Everton’s Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, who has been in strong form in the Premier League.
What Tuchel said
“We have a slight issue in central midfield.”
Thomas Tuchel, explaining the absences of Alex Scott and the suspended Myles Lewis-Skelly“Lee Carsley has been talking highly about Jobe for weeks and months.”
Thomas Tuchel, on the Under-21 coach’s recommendationTuchel added that Jobe had played a lot of football at Dortmund, was in good form and had earned the chance to join up, learn in the senior environment and make an impression. He described the wider approach as a moment to reward the standout Under-21 players ahead of their European Championship next summer.
Palmer, Foden and Mainoo miss out
Jobe’s call-up shares the headlines with the continued absence of some of England’s biggest names. Cole Palmer was left out despite medical checks with Chelsea confirming he was fully fit, with Tuchel having previously warned that the forward misses too many camps after withdrawing from the last squad with a minor muscle problem.
Phil Foden remains out of favour despite six goal involvements in his last six games for Manchester City, while Kobbie Mainoo and Noni Madueke have also been overlooked. Bukayo Saka is injured, and defenders Trevoh Chalobah and Tino Livramento have withdrawn. Declan Rice, Ben White and Djed Spence return, and Liverpool’s 18-year-old winger Rio Ngumoha keeps his place.
England squad for Croatia and Spain
| Position | Players (club) |
|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | Jordan Pickford (Everton), Jason Steele (Brighton), James Trafford (Leeds United) |
| Defenders | Trent Alexander-Arnold (Real Madrid), Jarrad Branthwaite (Everton), Marc Guehi (Manchester City), Lewis Hall (Newcastle United), Ezri Konsa (Arsenal), Jarell Quansah (Bayer Leverkusen), Djed Spence (Inter Milan), Ben White (Arsenal) |
| Midfielders | Elliot Anderson (Manchester City), Jobe Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), James Garner (Everton), Josh King (Fulham), Myles Lewis-Skelly (Arsenal), Declan Rice (Arsenal) |
| Forwards | Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Leeds United), Eberechi Eze (Arsenal), Morgan Gibbs-White (Nottingham Forest), Anthony Gordon (Barcelona), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Rio Ngumoha (Liverpool), Morgan Rogers (Chelsea) |
England’s Nations League position
England go into the November window second in League A Group 3, three points behind Spain after four matches. Defeat to Spain at Wembley in September was followed by three straight wins, including a 7-0 thrashing of Croatia in Rijeka, leaving Tuchel’s side all but certain of a top-two finish and a place in March’s quarter-finals. The full group tables and fixtures are on our UEFA Nations League 2026/27 page.
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spain | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | +7 | 12 |
| 2 | England | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | +11 | 9 |
| 3 | Croatia | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | -10 | 3 |
| 4 | Czech Republic | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | -8 | 0 |
League A Group 3 after four of six matchdays.
With the quarter-final place close to secure, Tuchel has used this camp to look at younger options. It continues a selection approach that has carried his record as England manager to one of the highest win percentages of anyone to hold the job.
England’s brothers: where the Bellinghams fit in
Brothers playing for England is rarer than it might seem. The FA’s list stood at 21 pairs after Trevoh Chalobah’s debut in June 2025 joined him with brother Nathaniel, the first new addition since Phil Neville followed Gary in 1996. Jobe would make it 22.
Playing in the same England side is rarer still. The Nevilles were the last brothers to do it, back in 2007, while Jack and Bobby Charlton lined up together 28 times, including the 1966 World Cup final. If Jobe and Jude share the pitch against Croatia or Spain, they will add a fresh chapter to more than 150 years of England’s international record.
Jobe Bellingham call-up FAQs
Here are quick answers to the most common questions about Jobe Bellingham’s first England call-up.
Has Jobe Bellingham been called up to the England squad?
Yes. Thomas Tuchel named Jobe Bellingham in his senior England squad for the first time on 6 November 2026, for Nations League matches against Croatia and Spain.
Why did Thomas Tuchel call up Jobe Bellingham?
Tuchel said England were short in central midfield, with Alex Scott not ready and Myles Lewis-Skelly suspended for the Croatia game. He also cited Jobe’s form at Borussia Dortmund and strong recommendations from Under-21 coach Lee Carsley.
When could Jobe Bellingham make his England debut?
His first chance is England v Croatia at Wembley on Thursday 12 November 2026, followed by Spain v England at the Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid on Sunday 15 November.
How many brothers have played for England?
Twenty-one sets of brothers have played for England’s men’s senior team. If Jobe makes his debut, he and Jude will become the 22nd.
Why is Cole Palmer not in the England squad?
Palmer was fit but left out. Tuchel has previously said the Chelsea forward misses too many camps, having withdrawn from England’s last squad with a minor muscle injury.
About the author: Ben Jardine
Ben Jardine is the managing editor of My Football Facts and has covered football since 2014. He writes across football statistics, history and current affairs, from all-time records and World Cup deep dives to live transfer-window coverage, with a focus on rigorously fact-checked, data-led analysis. Connect with Ben on LinkedIn.