When the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup kicks off in the United States, the tournament will welcome its usual cast of champions from around the globe. But this edition will carry something extra—a historic family moment. Jude and Jobe Bellingham are both set to appear, representing Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund, respectively.
Their simultaneous presence raises an intriguing question: Has there ever been another brother duo to play in the same edition of the FIFA Club World Cup? The answer, as it turns out, makes the Bellingham story even more special.
The Bellingham brothers’ rise began in the blue of Birmingham City, where Jude Bellingham burst onto the scene at just 16. His maturity and talent earned a move to Borussia Dortmund, where he developed into a world-class midfielder, before securing a high-profile transfer to Real Madrid. Now a centerpiece for both club and country, Jude has cemented his place among the world’s elite.
Meanwhile, Jobe Bellingham has taken a different, but equally compelling path. After a standout season at Sunderland, where he helped the club win promotion back to the Premier League after an eight-year absence, he caught the eye of Dortmund, who were more than familiar with the family pedigree.
In a blockbuster move, Borussia Dortmund signed Jobe for $38 million, a fee that could rise to $44 million with add-ons, surpassing Sunderland’s record sale of Jordan Pickford to Everton in 2017.
Calculated career move
Despite being named in England’s U21 squad for the UEFA European Championship, Jobe made the bold choice to withdraw, focusing instead on joining Dortmund in time for the Club World Cup. This decision shows not just ambition, but an awareness of the moment he’s stepping into.
The Black and Yellow fast-tracked his integration into the squad and handed him the No. 77 shirt, a tribute to the No. 7 he wore at Sunderland. Under manager Nico Kovac, he is expected to feature prominently in a youthful but ambitious Dortmund side.
First siblings to appear in Club World Cup history
Now, both Jude and Jobe Bellingham will appear in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, making them the first siblings to do so in the tournament’s history.
While soccer has celebrated many famous brothers—the Boatengs, the Nevilles, the Ayews, Thiago and Rafinha Alcantara, and Rafael and Fabio da Silva—none have achieved this feat. The FIFA Club World Cup, founded in 2000, has seen players from top clubs and continents compete, but never before have two brothers featured in the same edition, each representing different teams.
This isn’t just a family milestone—it’s a sporting first. Despite several prominent sibling duos playing for top European clubs, timing and club qualification have never aligned to allow such a moment—until now.
