Jude Bellingham returns to the England squad after missing four international games, but starts on the bench against Serbia this Thursday, November 13, 2025, at Wembley Stadium, in London. The 22-year-old Real Madrid midfielder competes for the number 10 spot with Morgan Rogers, who maintains the position in Thomas Tuchel’s 4-3-3 formation. The match, valid for the ninth round of Group K of the European qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, starts at 4:45 pm Brasília time.
England, already ranked with 18 points, seeks to close the home campaign with victory, while Serbia, third placed with 10 points, needs points for the play-offs. Tuchel chooses to preserve the tactical structure that resulted in an unbeaten record, with Bellingham as an impactful option in the second half.
The previous clash, in September 2025, ended 5-0 for the English in Belgrade, without Bellingham on the field due to a shoulder injury.
- English absences: Nick Pope and Marc Guéhi, due to injury.
- Serbian absences: Aleksandar Mitrović and Kosta Nedeljković, out due to physical problems.
- Referee: Ivan Kružliak, with an average of 5.04 cards per game.
Bellingham numbers for the 2025/2026 season
Bellingham has scored 2 goals in 7 La Liga matches this season, averaging 0.47 goals per 90 minutes. All goals came in home games, with no away contributions. He completed 15 shots, 9 of which were on target, and recorded 1 assist.
PeAt Real Madrid, the player has 3 goal contributions (G/A) in the Spanish championship. In European competitions, such as the Champions League, he contributed 2 goals and 3 assists in the previous phase, maintaining consistency in decisive passes.
The recovery of the left shoulder, operated on in July 2025, allowed an early return in September, with a rating of 8.4 in the victory over Valencia in November.
Best moment of Bellingham’s career
The 2023/2024 season marks Bellingham’s peak at Real Madrid, with 19 goals in La Liga, a record for an English midfielder at the club. He extended his streak of 6 consecutive games by scoring, a feat unheard of since Karim Benzema in 2016, and won the Player of the Month award for December.
The Englishman led the team to the league title and Champions League, with xG of 0.74 per 90 minutes. For England, he scored 6 goals in 44 games until June 2025, including an impact on Euro 2024.
Inclusion in the FIFPRO World 11 in 2023, 2024 and 2025, in addition to third place in the 2024 Ballon d’Or, consolidate this phase as a high point.
Bellingham’s expected impact ongame
Bellingham comes in as a substitute to reinforce the creative midfield, focusing on quick transitions and infiltrations. His average of 16 successful dribbles per game in La Liga highlights his ability to overcome Serbian markers such as Nemanja Gudelj.
In the context of England, he competes with Phil Foden and Eberechi Eze for the place alongside Declan Rice. Tuchel sees the player as an option for number 10, but prioritizes Rogers due to his recent form, in three consecutive starts.
The entry may occur after the break, aiming to exploit visiting fatigue and maintain English dominance, with a difference of +18 goals in the group.
Historical statistics against Serbia
Bellingham did not face Serbia in official matches for the senior team until 2025. In previous friendlies and qualifiers, such as Euro 2024, he recorded 1 goal and 2 assists in European duels.
For Real Madrid, against Balkan teams in club competitions, he accumulated 3 wins, 1 goal and 1 assist in 4 matches. These numbers suggest efficiency in high pressure scenarios.
England’s record against Serbia is 3 wins in 3 games since 2018, with no goals conceded.
Live broadcast to Brazil
SporTV 3 broadcasts the match live, with a signal via Globoplay for sports subscribers. Coverage starts at 4:15 pm, with pre-game analysis.
Disney+ Premium offers streaming in HD, with statistics onreal time and play replays. Radio Globo covers audio nationally.
FIFA provides global updates on its app, including highlights from Bellingham if it takes to the pitch.
