Bukayo Saka became the third Arsenal player to provide an assist from a corner at this World Cup on Saturday night, keeping his strong World Cup record going.
Bukayo Saka made his first start of the 2026 World Cup against Panama on Saturday, having been eased into the tournament to avoid risking aggravating his injury.
Saka had already provided an assist in his cameo appearance against Croatia in England’s opening game, but he’d only featured as a substitute in that match and the following fixture against Ghana.
Given around an hour by England boss Thomas Tuchel against Panama, Saka left it late to break the deadlock. But just before he was due to come off, he found Jude Bellingham with a corner for 1-0.
That goal means all three Arsenal players to take corners at this World Cup have provided at least one assist from those corners, with Martin Odegaard setting up Leo Ostigard with Norway and Declan Rice assisting Harry Kane for England.
Arsenal have also seen one of their players score from a corner situation, with Leandro Trossard turning home from close range after a Belgium corner against New Zealand.
But more than that, it keeps Saka’s strong record at World Cup tournaments going.
In Saka’s seven World Cup appearances so far, he’s scored three goals, provided two assists, and won a penalty leading to a goal in England’s 2022 quarter-final against France.
In per-minute terms, Saka has a goal or assist every 80 minutes at the World Cup. That’s not including the penalty he won, or the average would improve to one contribution every 67 minutes.
The knockout stage is next, so things won’t get any easier. But Saka has never shied away from knockout matches, and his last World Cup goal came in the last-16 in 2022.
Don’t be surprised if he finds his first goal at this tournament in the next match against D.R. Congo.
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