Thomas Tuchel admits injury concern for England ahead of World Cup

England’s World Cup preparations have gone about as smoothly as anyone could hope, with one notable exception. Bukayo Saka, the Arsenal winger who has become one of the most important players in Thomas Tuchel’s system, is still not at full fitness due to an Achilles injury that dates back to March 2026.

Tuchel confirmed on June 9, 2026, that Saka’s condition makes it very unlikely he’ll be at peak capacity when the tournament kicks off. The 24-year-old is currently unable to train on consecutive days, a limitation that tells you everything about where things stand.

The Saka situation

Tuchel acknowledged that Saka is “not at 100 percent.” Managers at major tournaments tend to guard injury information like state secrets, so for Tuchel to openly discuss the limitation suggests it’s significant enough that it can’t be hidden behind vague press conference language.

The question isn’t really whether Saka will be in the squad. He was included when the England World Cup roster was announced on May 22, 2026, and there’s been no indication he’ll be removed. The question is what version of Saka England actually gets.

Tuchel’s management approach, limiting consecutive training days, suggests England’s medical staff is trying to get Saka through the tournament rather than push for full recovery beforehand.

Good news everywhere else

Beyond the Saka situation, England’s fitness picture is remarkably clean. Following the warm-up match against New Zealand, played around June 6-8, Tuchel reported “no injury complaints” from the rest of the squad.

John Stones received an encouraging fitness update. The defender’s availability is crucial for Tuchel’s defensive structure, and having him fit and ready removes one of the bigger question marks that hovered over squad selection.

What this means for England’s World Cup campaign

Tuchel signed a contract extension in February 2026, keeping him in charge through at least 2028. That timeline tells you something about the Football Association’s confidence in his project, but it also means this World Cup isn’t a one-shot audition. He has the job security to make pragmatic decisions about Saka’s usage without feeling the pressure to risk a key player’s long-term health for short-term results.

Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.