England winger Bukayo Saka has declared himself ready to risk his fitness for England's FIFA World Cup 2026 opener against Croatia on Thursday, despite an ongoing Achilles concern that has shadowed his build-up to the tournament. Speaking ahead of the high-stakes clash in Kansas City, Saka said he is in a better physical state than he has been in months — and is willing to be judged on the pitch regardless.

The Injury Timeline

Saka missed the March international break and seven club matches for Arsenal due to the Achilles problem. He returned in time to help the Gunners lift the Premier League title for the first time in 22 years — a historic achievement that underlined just how much his recovery mattered to both club and country. However, he featured for only 27 minutes in England's final warm-up fixture against Costa Rica, leaving question marks over his readiness for a World Cup campaign.

What Saka Said

The winger credited both club and international medical staff for nursing him back. 'I don't want to say anything that goes against the manager. What I would say is that between Mikel [Arteta] and the Arsenal medical team and Thomas [Tuchel] and the England 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'm feeling better than I have felt in the last few months and I'm ready to go,' Saka said.

Asked whether it was frustrating to be assessed while not fully fit, he was candid about the risk he is choosing to accept. 'Yeah, but I think as players it's the biggest gamble, especially if you're not feeling your sharpest. You have the choice whether you don't play or you put yourself out there knowing that people are going to judge you the same,' he said.

'And at the end of the day people don't really care how you're feeling; they expect you to deliver, they expect you to perform. I'm happy to take that gamble and it paid off I'd say, and I'm going to continue doing that — but like I said, I'm feeling a lot better than I did in March, and I'm ready to go, so I'm excited,' he added.

A Milestone Appearance in Sight

Should Saka feature against Croatia, it will mark his 50th cap for England — a landmark moment for the Arsenal forward who has become one of the most important attackers in Gareth Southgate's and now Thomas Tuchel's England setups. His availability is widely seen as critical to England's attacking options in the group stage.

What It Means for England

England's opener against Croatia carries added weight given the two sides' history at major tournaments — Croatia eliminated England at the 2018 FIFA World Cup semi-final. Tuchel's side will be eager to set the right tone from the first match, and Saka's ability to stretch defences and create chances makes his fitness a matter of genuine national interest. His return to near-full fitness, even if not yet complete, is a significant boost for the squad heading into the tournament's opening round.