Saka, Rashford and Rice all doubts for England's World Cup clash with Ghana in Boston

England are sweating over the fitness of Bukayo Saka, Marcus Rashford and Declan Rice ahead of their second 2026 World Cup group game against Ghana on Tuesday in Boston, with Thomas Tuchel and his medical staff monitoring all three after the 4-2 opening win over Croatia.

Saka is the most significant concern. Tuchel confirmed the Arsenal winger is unlikely to start against Ghana as England manage his long-standing Achilles problem, with Noni Madueke expected to continue on the right wing. “Bukayo is ready and will get more and more ready,” Tuchel said after the Croatia match. “Once we get to the last game in the group it is the moment. He was strong yesterday in training in small spaces. It’s just a matter of if the game is open and up and down.”

Rashford, who came off the bench alongside Saka to combine for England’s fourth goal against Croatia, reported muscle tightness after the game and is being monitored. Captain Harry Kane also suffered cramp late in the match and was seen wearing strapping in training, though Tuchel has not flagged him as a major concern.

Rice’s withdrawal in the second half against Croatia was the most visible moment of alarm. The England midfielder was seen clutching the top of his right leg before being replaced by Morgan Rodgers, with Jude Bellingham dropping deeper and Reece James eventually moving into central midfield. Tuchel said he acted quickly to protect Rice once the player indicated discomfort in his lower back and upper hamstring area.

“I didn’t want to take any risk, so I decided to take Declan off — which I never wanted to do — but it was the moment to protect him,” Tuchel said. “He had a fantastic game, so I hope it’s nothing more, and he just reassured me at the end: ‘It’s good, and I know the discomfort’. We will take care of it, and this is nothing big to worry about.”

England have already lost one squad member to injury before a ball was kicked in the tournament, with Tino Livramento withdrawing from the camp with a calf strain. The Newcastle United full-back has been replaced by Chelsea’s Trevoh Chalobah.

The squad will train at their Kansas City base over the weekend before travelling to Boston ahead of Tuesday’s Group L fixture.