Saka and Rice Withdrawn from England Squad: Tuchel's Bold Call Ahead of 2026 World Cup

Footdudes
Apr 1
3 min read

With the 2026 World Cup just weeks away, England fans were expecting to see Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice dominate the final pre-tournament friendlies. Instead, Thomas Tuchel has made the tough call to send both Arsenal stars back to north London, and the football world cannot stop talking about it.

What Actually Happened?

Saka and Rice had only just rejoined the England camp on Friday after being rested for the 1-1 draw against Uruguay at Wembley. Within 24 hours, both players were heading back to Arsenal for medical checks. Tuchel was clear from the start though: this was his decision, and he stands by it completely.

Both players were still carrying discomfort following their gruelling involvement in the Carabao Cup final against Manchester City. With England's most important summer in years fast approaching, Tuchel refused to take any chances.

Tuchel Shuts Down the Critics

The rumour mill went into overdrive almost immediately. Were Saka and Rice protecting their fitness for Arsenal's treble chase? Were they prioritising club over country at the worst possible time?

Tuchel was having none of it. He pointed out that Rice actually showed up to training and got out on the pitch alongside Jude Bellingham before admitting his body was not responding. Saka, meanwhile, was putting in gym sessions just to give himself a chance of making it. Tuchel even noted that unlike other international camps in the past, these players arrived with their boots, ready to work. They gave everything they had to try and be available.

"I still have 100 per cent trust in the honesty of Bukayo and Declan," Tuchel told reporters. "We did medical tests. I saw them. I have no reason to believe either are not honest with me. But they were both clearly in discomfort."

The Workload That Tells the Full Story

The numbers make it hard to argue with Tuchel's decision. Rice has already played close to 3,500 minutes this season. Saka is approaching 3,000. These are two of the hardest-working players in world football right now, and their bodies are starting to feel it.

Arsenal are still alive in the Premier League title race, the FA Cup and the Champions League. The pressure on every single player at the Emirates has been relentless. Tuchel knows that pushing two half-fit stars through a pre-tournament friendly in late March is a gamble that could cost England dearly come July.

The Arsenal Exodus That Everyone Is Talking About

Here is where it gets truly remarkable. Saka and Rice were not the only Gunners to miss this international break. A staggering ten Arsenal players dropped out of international duty this month. That is not a coincidence, that is a squad running on fumes as they chase history on every front.

Noni Madueke made things even worse by picking up a knee injury during the Uruguay game, leaving the stadium in a protective brace. Tuchel admitted he is genuinely worried about losing him, calling him a "difference-maker" who opens up space and creates problems for any defence.

John Stones and Adam Wharton also departed camp with knocks, meaning Tuchel had to completely rethink his plans for the Japan friendly at Wembley.

What This Means for England's World Cup Hopes

England will face Croatia, Ghana and Panama in Group L at the 2026 World Cup in North America. Before that, they have two more warm-up games against Costa Rica and New Zealand during their pre-tournament camp in Florida. The clock is ticking.

The good news is that Tuchel has been clear these withdrawals are precautionary. Saka and Rice are not injured in any serious long-term sense. They are carrying the strain of an extraordinary season, and their manager has chosen to protect them rather than burn them out before the tournament even begins.

The smart money says both players will be fully fit and firing when England kick off their World Cup campaign. But this week has served as a reminder of just how fine the margins are at the top of the game, and how much England depend on these two Arsenal men when it really matters.

The Bottom Line

Love it or hate it, Tuchel made the sensible call. Risking Saka and Rice for a friendly against Japan, with everything that lies ahead, would have been football madness. The England boss has shown he is not afraid to make unpopular decisions, and if both players arrive in North America fresh and fit, nobody will remember this week at all.

England's World Cup dream is alive. Saka and Rice will be central to it. Right now, keeping them healthy is the only thing that matters.