Rio Ferdinand has dismissed controversy over England’s No. 10 role, affirming that Phil Foden, Jude Bellingham, and Cole Palmer are all viable options for Thomas Tuchel’s November 2025 World Cup qualifier squad.
Speaking on his podcast, as shared on the official X account, Ferdinand emphasised each player brings unique qualities to the position, and all could start without issue.
He also highlighted Morgan Rogers as a dynamic ball-carrier wildcard. SoftFootball recently reported Wayne Rooney debating the best choice following Foden’s performance in recent qualifiers and Bellingham’s reaction after being substituted in the Albania match.
Ferdinand explained:
Any of them three playing, I’m not sitting there going, oh my God, guys, what are we doing? It’s a disgrace. I’m not. I’m going, okay, thank you. I’m happy to go to war with this. All three of them could quite easily play the number 10 role and have a great shout as to why they should be the guy.
He broke down their strengths: Foden has big-game experience, Bellingham brings a fear factor honed at Real Madrid, and Palmer has proven Premier League scoring ability. Rogers was described as probably the best ball carrier of all of them.
On choosing between the trio for the big moments, Ferdinand leaned toward Bellingham, noting his composure at Real Madrid and ability to perform on the biggest stages. He added that Foden’s experience remains vital and Palmer’s goal-scoring instinct from distance is a serious asset.
Ferdinand’s analysis reflects Tuchel’s tactical admission that Bellingham, Foden, and Kane cannot all feature together in the current system, making selection for the No. 10 role a key talking point. With England maintaining a perfect qualifying record and Kane leading the charge in attack, the competition for creative influence is intense.
Ferdinand’s insights provide a reassuring perspective for England supporters, showing the squad has multiple strong options and that the debate over the No. 10 position should not be seen as a weakness but as tactical depth.
Fans can expect Tuchel to carefully rotate or choose based on form, opponent, and the specific demands of the upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
