Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jobe Bellingham will miss the Club World Cup quarterfinal clash against Real Madrid after picking up a second yellow card of the tournament in Dortmund’s 2–1 win over Monterrey on Tuesday.
The 19-year-old was booked in the 28th minute at Mercedes-Benz Stadium for a foul on Monterrey midfielder Nelson Deossa. Having also received a caution in Dortmund’s group-stage victory over Ulsan HD, Bellingham will now serve a one-match suspension under tournament regulations.
Dortmund manager Niko Kovac admitted the midfielder was unaware of the automatic suspension at the time.
“He was very disappointed,” Kovac said post-match. “I think he didn’t exactly know that a second yellow would mean a suspension. He found out at halftime and was a little bit surprised.”
Bellingham was withdrawn in the 55th minute as a precaution, with Kovac confirming the substitution was made to avoid any risk of a second booking turning into a dismissal.
“It wasn’t about his performance,” Kovac explained. “The match was very intense, with many physical duels, and I didn’t want to risk a red card.”
Saturday’s quarterfinal against Real Madrid at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey was set to be a landmark occasion for the Bellingham family. Instead, Jude, 22, will take the field for Madrid without his younger brother on the opposite side.
Still, Kovac remains optimistic that the brothers will cross paths competitively in the near future.
“They’re both young, and I’m convinced they’ll face each other again – maybe next season in the Champions League, maybe further in the future,” said the Dortmund boss. “The Club World Cup would have been a great setting, but now it isn’t. Someone else will step in.”
Jobe recently joined Dortmund in a 33 million euros move from Sunderland, after a breakout season with the newly promoted Premier League club. His older brother Jude previously spent three seasons at Dortmund before transferring to Real Madrid in 2023.
Dortmund face Real Madrid in the Club World Cup quarterfinal on Saturday, with a place in the semifinals on the line – but the Bellingham brothers’ first on-pitch reunion at senior level will have to wait.