World Cup 2026: Jude Bellingham highlights importance of feeling loved playing for England

England midfielder Jude Bellingham has stressed the importance of “feeling loved” to help them succeed at the World Cup this summer.

The tournament in North America started on Thursday with the USA and Canada, as well as host Mexico, beating South Africa 2-0.

England’s tournament does not start until next Wednesday when they face Croatia in Arlington, Texas.

Bellingham was part of the England squad that lost to Spain in the Euro 2024 final.

However, the national team, then managed by Gareth Southgate, was often accused of playing poorly in this tournament; Bellingham has previously said he felt like something of a scapegoat for England’s failure to win the tournament.

Bellingham admitted that he felt the group “wasn’t quite connected” during the Euros, but stressed there was a different atmosphere in the camp at the moment.

“We got things a little bit wrong off the pitch at the Euros,” he said on England’s Lions’ Den show.

“For many reasons I don’t think the group has connected well enough. The expectation was part of it; we did a good job in 2018 and we did a good job in Qatar as well. [for the 2022 World Cup] and when it came to that tournament, we were seen as one of the two or three teams that should win.

“We weren’t playing very well, so even when we won you didn’t get the feeling that you were as happy as you should have been.

“There has to be an element of ruthlessness and wanting to win, but that is the nature of football to win, it comes out of the system quickly and we have to hold on to that moment a little longer.

“I think this time I’m having those experiences… and you always have to be ready, knowing that the guy who scores the winning goal in the World Cup final, for example, is not always the one you’re going to bet on, everyone has to feel loved and a big part of the team. The other thing is to enjoy it.”