Bukayo Saka admits he is “taking a risk” regarding his fitness by playing in the World Cup but believes he is ready to feature ahead of England’s opener against Croatia.
The Three Lions begin their Group L campaign in Dallas on Wednesday, against the team that stopped their semi-final in Russia eight years ago.
Saka was not part of Gareth Southgate’s squad at the time, but after emerging as a key player for club and country, he is considered one of the first names in Thomas Tuchel’s squad.
However, Saka overcame an Achilles problem to help Arsenal win the Premier League title and finish as Champions League runners-up in the final weeks of 2025-26, and after using him as a 63rd-minute substitute in a 3-0 friendly win over Costa Rica, Tuchel said the winger is not ready to play the full 90 minutes.
Saka himself, however, is willing to participate in the first day: “I don’t want to say anything that goes against the coach.
“But what I would say, between Mikel [Arteta] and the Arsenal medical team and the England medical team, since March they have treated me wonderfully and helped me get back on the pitch and do what I can for the team.
“I feel better than I have in the last few months. I’m ready to go.”
Saka scored 11 goals and provided seven assists in 49 appearances for Arsenal in 2025-26 (all competitions).
It was his fewest goals in a campaign since 2020-21 (seven) and his joint-fewest assists since 2018-19 (none), when he debuted for the Gunners and only appeared in four games (also seven in 2020-21 and 2021-22).
And regardless of his fitness issues, he knows he will be judged harshly if he performs poorly in the coming weeks.
“As players, it’s the biggest risk, especially if you’re not feeling at your best,” Saka added.
“You have the option of not playing or exposing yourself, knowing that people will judge you the same way.
“At the end of the day, people don’t really care how you feel, they expect you to deliver, they expect you to perform.
“I’m happy I took the risk. I’d say it was worth it. I’m going to continue doing it. But I feel a lot better than I did in March and I’m ready to go.”
If Tuchel opts to contain Saka, his club-mate Noni Madueke is believed to start on the right wing, with Jude Bellingham and Anthony Gordon also expected to form the lineup in support of Harry Kane.
