The French national team faces a major setback ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

France's number one center-back, William Saliba, has suffered a recurrence of his back injury, risking his absence from the biggest football tournament on the planet in North America.

William Saliba is facing the risk of missing the 2026 World Cup, as his back injury worsened after the Champions League final.

In fact, the 25-year-old center-back had been experiencing back problems before the clash with PSG in Budapest. However, he was still determined to play to help Arsenal win their first European title in history.

Saliba played the full 120 minutes of the Champions League final - Photo: Alamy

Saliba played the full 120 minutes of the final, but Arsenal lost on penalties. His teammate in defense, Gabriel Magalhães, missed the decisive penalty.

However, the French player's efforts have worsened his back injury, raising concerns about his ability to participate in the upcoming World Cup.

According to Foot Mercato, Saliba could be sidelined for several weeks. Meanwhile, the French Football Federation is extremely concerned about the condition of the Arsenal star.

William Saliba was not included in the squad for the final Premier League match against Crystal Palace. He also missed several training sessions leading up to the game, indicating a long-standing back problem.

However, when asked about his player, coach Didier Deschamps reassured the public, stating: "He's here and everything is fine."

Saliba is causing concern for the French national team - Photo: SunSport

When questioned by reporters about reports that Saliba might miss the World Cup, the French coach responded: "That's untrue. I don't know where that information came from and I don't want to know."

If fully recovered, Saliba would be the preferred partner for Dayot Upamecano in the center of the French national team's defense.

Last season, Saliba started 30 out of 38 Premier League matches, playing a major role in helping Arsenal win the championship. He also made 12 appearances as Arsenal reached the Champions League final.

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/tuyen-phap-gap-hoa-lon-truc-world-cup-2026-2521559.html