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Bukayo Saka won the Premier League title with Arsenal this season. | Photo Credit: Getty Images

Bukayo Saka was not named in England starting line-up for its FIFA World Cup 2026 Group L opener against Croatia in Dallas.

The 24-year-old right winger won the Premier League title with Arsenal this season and played in the UEFA Champions League final loss to Paris Saint-Germain.

Saka has been managing an achilles injury in the last few weeks of the season and only made a substitute appearance in England friendly against Costa Rica ahead of the quadrennial event. He is said to have picked up the problem during the Carabao Cup final defeat to Manchester City.

“I don’t want to say anything that goes against the manager. But what I would say between Mikel [Arteta] and Arsenal’s medical team and England’s medical team, since March they have managed me amazingly and helped me get back on the pitch and do what I can for the team.

“I am feeling better than I have felt for the last few months. I am ready to go,” Saka said when asked about Thomas Tuchel referring to England managing the winger’s minutes.

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Published on Jun 18, 2026