Why is Bukayo Saka benched for England vs DR Congo FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 clash?

Bukayo Saka made only one start in the group stage.

England are set to face the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in the round of 32 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup at the Atlanta Stadium in Georgia on Wednesday, July 1st.

The Lions topped Group L to secure a comfortable position in the knockouts; however, their injury woes have only increased. Newcastle United defender Tino Livramento suffered a calf injury before the tournament commenced for the 1966 champions. He was later received by Trevoh Chalobah at the official 26-man tournament party.

Later, Reece James also suffered a hamstring injury during the side’s 4-2 victory against Croatia on matchday 1. He would be keen on making his return to the English side, but for the time being, he remains unavailable.

Bayer Leverkusen defender Jarell Quansah also picked up an ankle injury in the final group-stage match against Panama and is ruled out of the round-of-32 clash. However, as soon as England’s line-up for the clash against DR Congo was announced, fans started wondering why Bukayo Saka is on the bench despite finally earning his first start against Panama.

Also Read: England vs DR Congo pitch & weather report: Conditions revealed ahead of FIFA World Cup 2026 clash

Why is Bukayo Saka on the bench for England vs DR Congo in the FIFA World Cup 2026?

Bukayo Saka has been dealing with injury concerns. Before the tournament, the Arsenal attacker was nursing an Achilles injury after a tough season with the north London club, who won the 2025-26 Premier League and reached the final of the UEFA Champions League.

The 24-year-old made 49 appearances for the Gunners last season, scoring 11 goals and providing nine assists across all competitions. However, his campaign was affected by injuries, as he missed a couple of games due to issues with his hamstrings, Achilles tendon, and hip.

Bukayo Saka underwent a hamstring operation in January, and since then, he has struggled to return to full strength. According to reports, the Englishman also has a chronic Achilles condition that has limited his playing time in recent games. Thus, as a precaution, Thomas Tuchel might use the 24-year-old as a substitute against the DR Congo if he shows signs of fitness.

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