As Real Madrid prepare to face Borussia Dortmund in a blockbuster FIFA Club World Cup quarterfinal clash in New Jersey, much of the pre-match narrative was expected to center around an emotional showdown between Jude and Jobe Bellingham—two brothers set to face off on soccer’s global stage. But that highly anticipated duel has been derailed by an unexpected twist.
Instead of writing a historic family chapter together at MetLife Stadium, Jobe Bellingham’s suspension has ruled him out of the match, leaving his older brother Jude both disappointed and philosophical about the turn of events.
Jobe Bellingham received a second yellow card of the tournament in Borussia Dortmund’s hard-fought 2–1 victory over Monterrey in the Round of 16. FIFA rules mandate a one-match suspension after a second booking, even if those bookings occur across different games. Unfortunately, Jobe—and apparently Dortmund’s coaching staff—were unaware of the rule.
“He told me after that nobody had told him, and he wasn’t sure,” Jude Bellingham said when asked about the suspension, as quoted by SNTV.
What could have been a storybook moment for the Bellingham family was instead reduced to a bittersweet learning experience. Yet Jude offered an eight-word summary that underlined the situation with a touch of humor: “It’s a common theme with both of us,” he remarked, referring to their shared penchant for yellow cards.
The ‘dream’ put on hold
For the brothers—and the football world—it was more than just another match. It was a chance for the siblings, now both playing at elite clubs, to face off on an international stage.
“It would have been lovely for me and my family, for both of us, something that we’ve obviously dreamed of,” Jude said. “But I’m sure it will come around again. That’s part of football, so we have to accept it.”
The 22-year-old Real Madrid star also acknowledged that emotion will still be running high, even without his brother on the opposite side. After all, he spent three formative years at Dortmund, joining them in 2020 as a teenager and quickly becoming one of Europe’s brightest midfielders.
How did Jobe react during the game?
Borussia Dortmund’s leadership shared in Jobe’s disappointment. Sporting director Sebastian Kehl called the missed opportunity “very sad,” while coach Niko Kovac revealed the 19-year-old was “very surprised” and deeply crestfallen at halftime.
“That was actually the story we all wanted to write,” Kehl said.“ He was really looking forward to playing against his brother.”
