France Defender Saliba Doubtful for FIFA World Cup 2026: Reports
- Arsenal and France defender William Saliba will undergo scans on Monday to assess a back injury that sources told ESPN makes him very doubtful for the World Cup.
- The 25-year-old aggravated a pre-existing back injury during Saturday's Champions League final defeat to Paris Saint-Germain at Puskas Arena, leaving him in a 'race against time' to prove fitness to France head coach Didier Deschamps.
- Saliba played 50 of Arsenal's 63 games this season and was instrumental in their Premier League title-winning campaign, making his potential absence a significant blow for France.
- France manager Deschamps named his 26-man squad, which includes defenders Dayot Upamecano, Ibrahima Konate, and Jules Kounde, as the team prepares to face Senegal in just over a fortnight.
- The World Cup features 48 teams competing in 104 games; Deschamps previously warned that eight or 10 nations possess potential to become world champions, signaling competitive depth beyond France.
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Breeder Didier Deschamps wanted to reassuring himself this Monday on the physical state of William Saliba. Arsenal's defender, who suffers from back pain and has passed exams, must join the French team in Clairefontaine for the preparation of the 2026 World Championship.
France defender Saliba doubtful for FIFA World Cup 2026: Reports
The 25-year-old played the whole 120 minutes in Arsenal’s UEFA Champions League 2025-26 final loss against Paris Saint-Germain on Saturday, despite carrying a minor injury he picked up earlier this season.
France National Team in Crisis: Arsenal Champion Saliba Unlikely to Play in World Cup OSEN = Reporter Seo Jeong-hwan The French national team is in a state of emergency. Local reports suggest that the chances of key defender William Saliba (25) of Arsenal playing in the World Cup have significantly decreased. ESPN reported on the 1st (KST)
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