Jude Bellingham will take the field for Real Madrid in the Club World Cup quarter-finals, but his younger brother Joe Bellingham won’t be able to play for Borussia Dortmund.
Both Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund did their jobs well, securing wins in the Round of 16 and setting up this anticipated quarter-final clash. However, the much-awaited showdown between the Bellingham brothers won’t happen — because Joe Bellingham couldn’t fulfill his part.
It was confirmed in the 28th minute of Dortmund’s match against Monterrey that Joe would miss the quarter-finals, even if Dortmund won. The 19-year-old received a yellow card for a foul on Nelson Devos.
Coincidentally, Joe had also picked up a yellow card in the group stage’s final match against South Korea’s Ulsan — again, in the 28th minute!
Because of these two consecutive yellow cards, Joe is suspended for the next game. That means he won’t face off against his elder brother Jude, who is two years older.
Dortmund beat Monterrey 2-1 to reach the quarter-finals, while Real Madrid secured their spot by defeating Juventus 1-0 on the same day.
The two teams will meet again in a high-stakes clash for a place in the semi-finals next Saturday.
Dortmund’s coach, Nico Kovac, revealed after the match that Joe was shocked upon learning about his suspension.
“We saw during the game that he was very disappointed. I think he didn’t realize that two yellow cards would lead to a suspension. He was surprised when he found out during halftime.”
Joe was substituted in the 55th minute, and Kovac explained it was less about performance and more about the risk of receiving a red card.
Joe’s career is following a path similar to his brother Jude’s. Jude first gained recognition playing for Dortmund before moving to Real Madrid, where he has become one of the world’s best midfielders.
Both brothers are midfielders who can also play in attacking roles. Both began their professional careers at their hometown club Birmingham City. Jude moved to Dortmund at age 17, where after three years of impressive performances, he signed for Real Madrid in 2023 and quickly established himself as a key player.
After starting at Birmingham City, Joe spent two years at Sunderland. Last month, he followed his brother’s footsteps by signing a five-year contract with Dortmund. Sunderland received a transfer fee of €33 million — a record for any newly promoted Premier League club.
Joe made his Dortmund debut at this Club World Cup, coming on as a substitute in the first game. He earned a starting spot in the next match and scored his first goal.
Saturday’s quarter-final could have been a memorable occasion for Joe, Jude, and their family. The football world was eager to see the two talented brothers face off. But all hopes were dashed by the suspension due to yellow cards.
However, Dortmund’s coach remains optimistic that the brothers will face each other many more times.
“Look, Joe is still young. Jude isn’t much older either. I’m sure they’ll face each other in the future — maybe in the Champions League or beyond. The future belongs to them.”
“Yes, it would have been amazing to see them meet in the Club World Cup, but that’s not happening. We’ll have to play someone else instead, and that’s not a problem for me.”
