Bellingham expected to start, Guehi likely on bench for England opener

Jude Bellingham is projected to start for England in their opening match of the 2026 World Cup against Croatia next week, while Marc Guehi is likely to be on the bench. Manager Thomas Tuchel indicated he has 14 or 15 players in mind for the starting lineup after England's final warm-up game against Costa Rica, which they won 3-0. Bellingham is favored over Morgan Rogers for the No. 10 role, with John Stones and Ezri Konsa set to fill the central defense positions, leaving Guehi's spot in question due to Tuchel's preference for physicality. Bukayo Saka's participation could also be limited due to ongoing fitness concerns, with Noni Madueke starting ahead of him recently.

• 6:57 PMYahoo Sports — Bellingham, but no Guehi - England's expected team
• 6:46 PMBBC Sport — Bellingham set to start, but no Guehi - England's expected team