Jobe Bellingham Earns First England Call-Up as Tuchel Names Squad for Croatia and Spain
Jobe Bellingham has earned his first senior England call-up. The 21-year-old Borussia Dortmund midfielder was named by head coach Thomas Tuchel on Friday 6 November 2026 in a 24-man squad for the Nations League games against Croatia and Spain. The Jobe Bellingham England call-up puts him alongside his older brother Jude at senior international level for the first time.
England host Croatia at Wembley on Thursday 12 November at 7:45pm, then travel to Spain for the group decider at the Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid on Sunday 15 November at 7:45pm UK time. Tuchel named his squad for the Nations League double-header against Croatia and Spain
Jobe Bellingham England Call-Up — Quick Reference Summary
| Detail | Fact |
|---|---|
| Announcement | Friday 6 November 2026, 10:00am GMT |
| Head coach | Thomas Tuchel |
| Player | Jobe Bellingham, 21, central midfielder, Borussia Dortmund |
| Famous relation | Jude Bellingham, older brother, Real Madrid, 60 senior England caps |
| Fixtures | Croatia at Wembley, Thu 12 Nov 2026, 7:45pm; Spain away, Sun 15 Nov 2026, 7:45pm UK |
| Competition | UEFA Nations League, Group A2 |
| England position | Second, three points behind Spain |
Jobe Bellingham England call-up: what Tuchel saw at Dortmund
Bellingham signed for Borussia Dortmund from Sunderland in the summer of 2025, and his form in Germany has carried him into the senior squad within 18 months. He has helped Borussia Dortmund to joint-top of the Bundesliga, and Tuchel has rewarded that club form with a place in his final squad of 2026.
The call-up follows a full pathway through the England age groups. Bellingham has represented England at every level from under-16 to under-20, and he holds 12 England Under-21 caps. His senior chance arrives with England heading into two fixtures that will decide the group.
Brothers in the same England squad
Jude Bellingham, 23, has played 60 times for the senior team, and the brothers will now share a camp for the first time. Their joint selection makes them the first brothers named in the same England squad since Gary and Phil Neville.
Football runs through the whole family. Their father Mark Bellingham scored seven goals on his England Over-50s debut Jobe now has the chance to add a senior cap of his own, and a debut against either Croatia or Spain would complete a rapid rise from Sunderland’s academy to the international stage.
The full 24-man squad Tuchel named
England Squad in Full — November 2026 Nations League
| Position | Players |
|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | Jordan Pickford (Everton), Jason Steele (Brighton), James Trafford (Leeds United) |
| Defenders | 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 | Elliott Anderson (Manchester City), Jobe Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Eberechi Eze (Arsenal), James Garner (Everton), Josh King (Fulham), Myles Lewis-Skelly (Arsenal), Declan Rice (Arsenal) |
| Forwards | Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Leeds United), Morgan Gibbs-White (Nottingham Forest), Anthony Gordon (Barcelona), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Rio Ngumoha (Liverpool), Morgan Rogers (Chelsea) |
Fulham forward Josh King also earns a maiden senior call-up, having been part of England’s World Cup warm-up camp in Florida during the summer. Liverpool youngster Rio Ngumoha is called up for the first time as well. Ezri Konsa, who left Arsenal’s Champions League win at Slavia Prague with a knee issue this week, is also in the squad
Palmer, Foden and Mainoo left out as Rice and White return
The biggest talking point beyond the Jobe Bellingham England call-up is the omission of Cole Palmer. The Chelsea midfielder was left out despite being available, weeks after Tuchel questioned his commitment when he withdrew from the most recent international camp. Phil Foden and Kobbie Mainoo also miss out.
Declan Rice returns to midfield after missing the autumn fixtures through injury. Ben White and Djed Spence are back in the squad, while Jarrad Branthwaite is recalled in defence. Trent Alexander-Arnold, Trevoh Chalobah and Nico O’Reilly drop out, and Bukayo Saka is absent with a quad injury.
What is at stake against Croatia and Spain
England sit second in Group A2 after four fixtures, three points behind Spain. The home defeat to Spain at Wembley still shapes the table, while England have beaten Czechia twice and beaten Croatia heavily away from home.
The position is still strong. England are six points above third-place Croatia with a far superior goal difference, so qualification for the quarter-finals is all but secure. The Spain trip is about finishing first, and a win in Madrid would turn the group on its head.
Frequently asked questions
When was Jobe Bellingham called up to the England senior squad?
Thomas Tuchel named him in the 24-man squad announced on Friday 6 November 2026, for the Nations League games against Croatia and Spain.
Who else earned a first England call-up in this squad?
Fulham forward Josh King and Liverpool youngster Rio Ngumoha were both called up to the senior squad for the first time.
When do England play Croatia and Spain?
England host Croatia at Wembley on Thursday 12 November at 7:45pm, then travel to Spain on Sunday 15 November, with kick-off at 7:45pm UK time.
Why was Cole Palmer left out of the England squad?
Tuchel left Palmer out despite him being available, weeks after questioning his commitment when the Chelsea midfielder withdrew from the most recent international camp.
Would Jobe and Jude Bellingham be the first brothers in an England squad for years?
Yes. Their joint selection makes them the first brothers named in the same England squad since Gary and Phil Neville.
Myth-busting: Jobe Bellingham was not called up only because he is Jude’s brother. The call-up rests on his own record: a regular role at Borussia Dortmund, a club sitting joint-top of the Bundesliga, 12 England Under-21 caps, and a full pathway through every England age group from under-16 upwards.
