England winger Bukayo Saka has expressed his readiness to take risks with his fitness in order to feature in the Three Lions' opening match of the FIFA World Cup 2026. England will begin their campaign against Croatia in Dallas, and Saka is determined to be available despite dealing with an Achilles injury that has troubled him for several months.
The Arsenal star has spent much of the year managing the issue and has not been able to play regularly at full capacity. The 24-year-old remains one of England's most important attacking players, but concerns about his physical condition persist ahead of the tournament. England manager Thomas Tuchel has been careful with Saka's workload and recently admitted that the winger's fitness is being closely monitored. Despite those concerns, Saka believes his condition has improved significantly and is confident he can contribute to England's World Cup ambitions.
Bukayo Saka Confident Despite Ongoing Achilles Problem
Saka's injury problems began after he suffered an Achilles issue during Arsenal's Carabao Cup final against Manchester City in March. The setback forced him to miss seven matches and limited his playing time during the closing months of the season. Since then, he has only completed a full match once and was substituted early during Arsenal's Champions League final appearance. The winger recently returned to action as a substitute in England's 3-0 victory over Costa Rica. While Tuchel has remained cautious about rushing him back into full action, Saka has insisted he feels stronger than he did earlier this year.
Speaking about his recovery, Saka explained that both Arsenal and England's medical staff have worked closely together to carefully manage his condition since March. He said their support has helped him return to the pitch and perform for his team. The forward added that he currently feels much better than he did a few months ago and believes he is ready to compete.
Saka also acknowledged that playing while not fully fit can be a difficult decision for professional athletes. He explained that players often face criticism regardless of their physical condition and are still expected to perform at the highest level. Because of that, he is willing to accept the risks involved if it means helping his country at the World Cup. He added that taking those chances has worked for him before and he plans to continue doing so while his condition keeps improving.
The Arsenal star also believes his club's recent success can help England. After winning the Premier League title and gaining valuable experience in major matches, Saka feels that knowing how to succeed at the highest level gives players extra confidence.
