Tuchel says England’s Saka, who is still recovering from injury, should be coached for the 2026 World Cup

Bukayo Saka is still recovering from an Achilles tendon injury and needs careful management ahead of the World Cup, England manager Thomas Tuchel said.

The 24-year-old forward suffered the injury in March but played on with the discomfort of having to play for his club Arsenal towards the end of the season to secure their first Premier League title in more than two decades.

Saka also appeared in the Champions League final against Paris St Germain, which Arsenal lost on penalties.

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«Bukayo is still coming, he is playing despite the discomforts at the end of the season, but is clearly succeeding and playing at a high level, but still not at 100%. He is the one we are building and taking care of in training,» Tuchel told reporters on Tuesday.

«Some things are missing… consecutive training sessions. They (Arsenal) looked after him very well and were very aware of it… and we will do a bit of the same.»

“They brought him back against Fulham when the season and the title were on the line and he was decisive straight away.

“And then they decided together, Bukayo and Arsenal, to let him play through his pain and discomfort, even though it was not possible to train all week in the build-up.”

Saka’s fitness could be crucial to England’s World Cup ambitions. He played in the 2020 and 2024 European Championships and scored three goals in four appearances at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

England kick off their campaign in Dallas on June 17 with a replay of their 2018 World Cup semi-final against Croatia.

Published on June 10, 2026