Why didn’t Jude Bellingham start for England against France at FIFA World Cup 2026?

Jude Bellingham did not start for England against France at the FIFA World Cup 2026 third-place play-off.

Fans at the Miami Stadium in Florida, USA, only got to enjoy a brief period of watching the genius at work.

Jude Bellingham didn’t start due to workload management

Throughout the competition, Jude Bellingham looked nothing short of exceptional, with the Real Madrid superstar popping up during many vital moments.

After the match against Argentina, in which ‘The Three Lions’ threw away a one goal lead, Bellingham was rendered devastated.

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Despite the loss, he couldn’t head home quite yet, as the player still had to represent his nation one last time in the third-place play-off.

However, Bellingham did not start the match. According to Athlon Sports, this was down to workload management.

Regardless, he still got an opportunity to showcase his skills in abundance. After coming off the bench in the 78th minute, Bellingham witnessed three goals hit the back of the net. And one of them was his.

In the dying moments of the fixture, the gifted athlete left the French defenders in the dust to produce the tenth finish in a game that finished 6-4 to England.

Featured Image Credit: Getty