France suffers a shock ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

According to ESPN , the 25-year-old star will undergo a CT scan next Monday to determine the exact severity of the injury. Initial diagnoses from the French medical team suggest Saliba will need a long period of rest and treatment, meaning the Arsenal center-back will almost certainly miss the 2026 World Cup campaign.

Saliba's absence will be a real shock for coach Didier Deschamps. The central defender just had an impressive season with Arsenal, playing in 50 out of 63 matches in all competitions. He was a key player in helping the Gunners win the Premier League and reach the Champions League final, where Arsenal recently lost to PSG on penalties. For the French national team, Saliba is a guaranteed starter when fit.

Tottenham's championship ambitions will suffer a major blow without the services of one of their best central defenders currently available.

Saliba suffered an injury after the Champions League final against PSG.

At the 2026 World Cup, France is in Group I alongside Senegal, Iraq, and Norway. With Saliba likely absent, coach Deschamps will rely on the remaining defensive options in the squad, including Lucas Hernandez, Ibrahima Konate, Jules Kounde, Maxence Lacroix, and Dayot Upamecano. Upamecano is likely to start. The remaining spot will be occupied by either Konate or Hernandez.

At the 2026 World Cup, coach Deschamps sparked controversy by excluding Eduardo Camavinga. During the announcement of the 26-man squad, Coach Deschamps shared: "I have ambitions and I want my players to have them too. But I don't want the whole team to remain humble. I won't hide or deny that France is among the teams that could win the 2026 World Cup. However, currently there are 8 to 10 teams that could also say that."

"Winning the World Cup doesn't come by shouting: 'We are the best, we are the strongest!'" Coach Deschamps emphasized.

At the 2026 World Cup, France boasts a formidable attack with the trio of Ousmane Dembele, Kylian Mbappe, and Michael Olise. Their midfield is not highly rated, with N'Golo Kante's form declining. Other players, such as Tchouameni, have inconsistent performances. France's defense places great faith in the central defensive pairing of Saliba and Upamecano. If Saliba is unavailable for the 2026 World Cup, the strength of "Les Blues" will be noticeably diminished.

Source: https://tienphong.vn/tuyen-phap-nhan-cu-soc-truc-world-cup-2026-post1848158.tpo