England head coach Thomas Tuchel has strongly indicated that star winger Bukayo Saka is unlikely to start in Tuesday’s crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup Group L match against Ghana.
The Arsenal forward sat out of the squad’s full training session on Friday at their Kansas City base, following an individualized training routine instead. The Football Association (FA) and Tuchel have reiterated that this is part of a planned, strict workload management program to protect the 24-year-old, who has been nursing a persistent Achilles tendinitis issue since March.
While Saka has expressed a complete willingness to play through the pain barrier for his country during the tournament, Tuchel is taking a pragmatic approach to ensure the winger does not aggravate the injury early in the competition.
Tactical Impact and Group L Standings
Saka proved his immense value from the bench during England’s opening Group L match against Croatia. Coming on in the 72nd minute, he made an instant impact by providing the assist for Marcus Rashford’s late goal to secure a vital 4-2 victory.
Tuchel expects to use Saka in a similar high-impact substitute role against a physical Ghana side. The coaching staff is targeting the final group phase match against Panama on June 27 in New Jersey as the realistic window for Saka to make his first full start of the tournament.
| Group L Match | Date | Estimated Role for Saka |
| England vs Ghana | Tuesday, June 23 | Expected Substitute |
| England vs Panama | Saturday, June 27 | Potential Starter |
