Tuchel sweats on Saka's fitness as England face Costa Rica in final World Cup warm-up

Thomas Tuchel has raised concerns over Bukayo Saka’s fitness on the eve of the 2026 World Cup, revealing the Arsenal winger is managing an achilles issue as England prepare to face Costa Rica in Florida in their final warm-up fixture.

Saka, widely expected to start in Tuchel’s first-choice XI, played through the pain during Arsenal’s Premier League title-winning campaign this season. The England manager said the squad is taking a cautious approach to “build up” Saka ahead of the tournament, though the extent of the concern and his availability for England’s opening group game remain unclear.

England’s friendly against Costa Rica serves as the last chance for Tuchel to assess his squad before the tournament begins. The World Cup itself kicks off in Mexico City, where co-hosts Mexico face South Africa in the opening match.

The tournament’s build-up has not been without controversy. Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan was denied a visa to enter the United States, with the Trump administration citing alleged links to “suspected members of terror organisations.” FIFA subsequently confirmed Artan would not officiate at the tournament, a decision that has drawn widespread attention in the days leading up to the opening fixture.

On a more poignant note, Scotland left-back Andy Robertson has spoken of carrying the memory of Diogo Jota with him at the World Cup, after receiving a moving letter from the late Liverpool forward’s widow, Rute Cardoso. Robertson had previously revealed he could not stop thinking about Jota after Scotland sealed their qualification in November — a moment the two friends had long dreamed of together before Jota’s death last July.

In the letter, published by FIFA, Cardoso wrote: “Diogo often spoke of you. Of the friendship you built, the battles you fought together, the challenges, the laughter, the conversations about football… and about dreams. The World Cup was one of those dreams, a dream that the two of you nurtured, side by side.”

Cardoso added that Robertson would not be going to the World Cup alone, telling him he would be carrying Jota’s dream with him onto the pitch in North America.