Arsenal qualifying for the Champions League final looks set to impact England's World Cup preparations
09:23, 07 May 2026
Arsenal's Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka are expected to miss the start of England's training camp ahead of the World Cup
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Arsenal's Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka are expected to miss the start of England's training camp ahead of the World Cup(Image: (Photo by Nigel French/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images))
Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice are expected to miss the majority of England's pre-World Cup training camp due to Arsenal's participation in the Champions League final. The Gunners are set to face Paris Saint-Germain in Budapest on Saturday, May 30 for the right to be called European champions.
Gunners duo Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke, who have been called up by Thomas Tuchel several times this season can also be included in that category. However, captain Harry Kane is expected to be available after Bayern Munich's elimination by PSG.
According to Sky Sports' Rob Dorsett, the Three Lions are set to fly to Miami for their warm-weather training camp on Monday, June 1 - just two days after the Champions League final.
The Arsenal stars are expected to be given at least six days off which will see them miss the friendly against New Zealand on Saturday, June 6 in Tampa Bay. Four days later in Orlando, England face Costa Rica with the expectation being that Rice, Saka, Eze and Madueke could be involved.
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This scenario not only creates a slight headache for Tuchel but also means Arsenal's players have a very busy schedule, at least over the next seven weeks.
Though rest will be limited, Arsenal's four England regulars - which may increase to six after recent displays from Ben White and Myles Lewis-Skelly - could be rocking up to the United States full of confidence having won the Champions League and Premier League title.
Mikel Arteta's side are just four games away from achieving that with their clash against PSG coming after league games against West Ham United, Burnley and Crystal Palace.
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Title rivals Manchester City are currently five points behind Arsenal, but Pep Guardiola's side do have four matches to play with their game against Crystal Palace, originally scheduled for Carabao Cup final weekend, to be contested next Tuesday.
Before then, City kick off the weekend at Etihad Stadium against Brentford, with Arsenal heading to West Ham United the following day.
Saka and Rice are both expected to start at London, with their minutes carefully managed over the last two games. The latter is set to go up against his former club, and while acknowledging all they did for him, Rice has made it clear what must be done.
Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice
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Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice
He said: "It's a club that gave me everything. Without West Ham, there's no me and I honestly believe that. They gave me a chance when Chelsea didn't and a lot of people there really did push me on.
"[David] Moyes, Slaven Bilić, [Manuel] Pellegrini made me captain. Loads of good things about that club. It's not nice to see they position they're in. But it's football and I have a job to do on Sunday.
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"We're trying to win a Premier League title and it's the business end of the season, so we want to win every game and I'm sure they want to win every game too. So, yeah, may the best team win."