Declan Rice says he found it impossible to fully switch off during his summer break, with the FIFA World Cup 2026 looming large on the horizon just weeks after he helped Arsenal lift the Premier League title.

The England midfielder made his first international appearance of the summer following Arsenal's historic championship win, and admitted the magnitude of what comes next made genuine rest difficult to come by.

"I got itchy feet," Rice said, reflecting on a holiday that never quite settled into calm — the pull of the World Cup proving too strong to ignore.

From Anfield to the world stage

Rice was a central figure in Arsenal's Premier League triumph, a title that ended a lengthy wait for the club and sent their supporters into a frenzy. But even as the champagne flowed, his mind was already turning toward representing England on football's biggest stage.

The FIFA World Cup 2026 — hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico — represents the next challenge for Rice and his England teammates, and the midfielder made clear he has no intention of arriving at the tournament short of ambition or preparation.

Rice's comments underline the mentality that has made him one of the most influential midfielders in European football. Having secured domestic glory with Arsenal, the hunger has not dimmed — if anything, the Premier League success appears to have sharpened his appetite for more silverware at international level.

England will be among the favourites when the FIFA World Cup 2026 kicks off, and Rice's form and leadership will be central to their ambitions throughout the tournament.