The link between Bellingham’s name and the song gave fans a simple, repeatable chorus. It travelled from stadiums to broadcasts and social media, keeping the track in front of a new audience throughout England’s tournament campaign.
The revival reaches beyond the main chart. “Hey Jude” entered the Official Streaming Chart at No. 62, giving the Beatles only their second appearance on that list. The first came with “Now and Then” in 2023.
The football connection has also strengthened the song’s performance in other formats.
Two further Beatles songs have returned to the physical singles chart. “I Want to Hold Your Hand” sits at No. 73, while “Free as a Bird” is at No. 88. Both have previously spent at least 40 weeks on that chart and peaked at No. 2.
England’s progress clearly widened the song’s reach. The team did not win the World Cup, but a third-place finish after beating France gave supporters plenty of emotionally charged moments in which the chant could take hold.
That is the power of a football chorus: it turns a familiar song into a shared ritual, then carries it beyond the match. The next England campaign will show whether “Hey Jude” remains permanently attached to Bellingham - or whether another tournament produces the next unexpected chart anthem.