Bellingham handed No 10 shirt as Tuchel reveals England's World Cup squad numbers

Jude Bellingham has been handed the No 10 shirt in England’s official squad number list submitted to FIFA for the 2026 World Cup, a signal that Thomas Tuchel is leaning towards the Real Madrid midfielder for the central attacking role ahead of the tournament opener against Croatia on June 17.

Bellingham had been competing with Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers for the position, and while squad numbers are not a guaranteed guide to selection, the allocation carries weight. Rogers, who has impressed Tuchel throughout the season and attracted transfer interest from Arsenal, has been assigned No 17. Tuchel had publicly championed Rogers while Bellingham was working his way back to fitness, but the England head coach appears to be reverting to his Real Madrid star now he is fully available.

Marcus Rashford has been given the No 11 shirt, placing him ahead of Anthony Gordon — who wears No 18 — in the contest for the left-wing berth. Nico O’Reilly, the favourite to start at left back, has been assigned No 3, another first-XI number that may reflect Tuchel’s current thinking.

Elsewhere in the numbering, Reece James retains the No 24 he wears at Chelsea, while Ezri Konsa takes the No 2 shirt previously worn by the retired Kyle Walker in recent tournaments under Gareth Southgate. John Stones drops to No 5, with the central defensive positions still considered open, Konsa and Marc Guehi — who wears No 6 — currently regarded as the frontrunners to start.

England’s players completed their first training session in the United States on Tuesday after arriving in West Palm Beach, Florida on Monday night. The session was held at a tennis club and open to the public, with 26 players in attendance. Arsenal’s four representatives — Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke — have been given until Friday to report following their club’s involvement in European competition, while Crystal Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson was expected to join on Wednesday. Additional training players Alex Scott, Rio Ngumoha, Josh King, Ethan Nwaneri and goalkeeper Jason Steele have also joined the camp to bolster numbers in sessions.

England’s full World Cup squad numbers:

1: Jordan Pickford; 2: Ezri Konsa; 3: Nico O’Reilly; 4: Declan Rice; 5: John Stones; 6: Marc Guehi; 7: Bukayo Saka; 8: Elliot Anderson; 9: Harry Kane; 10: Jude Bellingham; 11: Marcus Rashford; 12: Tino Livramento; 13: Dean Henderson; 14: Jordan Henderson; 15: Dan Burn; 16: Kobbie Mainoo; 17: Morgan Rogers; 18: Anthony Gordon; 19: Ollie Watkins; 20: Noni Madueke; 21: Eberechi Eze; 22: Ivan Toney; 23: James Trafford; 24: Reece James; 25: Djed Spence; 26: Jarell Quansah.