10 JUNE 2026
Bukayo Saka Heads to World Cup 2026 — But Doubts Remain
England's most dangerous attacker arrives at the 2026 World Cup with a cloud hanging over him. Bukayo Saka is in the squad, he is in North America, and he wants to play but the question everyone is asking is whether his body will let him.
The problems began in April when the Arsenal winger picked up an Achilles injury that disrupted the final stretch of his club season. He barely featured in Arsenal's last few Premier League games and missed England's warm-up friendlies entirely. For a player who depends on sharpness and confidence to unlock defences, that kind of stop-start preparation is far from ideal.
Manager Thomas Tuchel has not hidden his concern. He confirmed publicly that Saka is currently unable to train on back-to-back days, which for a wide player who needs to sprint, cut and press repeatedly across 90 minutes, is a significant limitation. Tuchel has stopped short of ruling him out but his words have been carefully chosen, and that careful language speaks volumes.
For fantasy managers, this is the big dilemma of the tournament opener. Saka is the kind of player who ends up in nearly every squad because his ceiling is enormous. But a player managing an Achilles issue mid-tournament is one heavy challenge away from being stretchered off and wiped from your points tally for weeks.
The one small mercy for England is the schedule. They open against Croatia on June 17, which gives Saka a few extra days compared to teams playing on June 11 and 12. That window could be just enough for him to find some sharpness in training and convince Tuchel he is ready to start. When Saka is at his best, there are very few better players at this tournament. His ability to carry the ball, create chances and score from wide positions makes him a matchwinning asset. England's hopes in the knockout rounds will almost certainly run through him if he gets there fully fit. But right now, that if is doing a lot of work.