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Les Bleus have hit a major roadblock on their way to the World Cup.
Arsenal defender William Saliba is highly doubtful for the tournament after picking up a back injury a few weeks ago.
The 25-year-old centre-back reportedly underwent initial scans on Monday, but fears are growing that the defender will require an extended period of rest and treatment, forcing him to miss the competition altogether, according to ESPN.
According to reports from Foot MercatoArsenal centre-back William Saliba was already carrying a back injury in Saturday’s Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain. He played the full 120 minutes in Budapest but reportedly aggravated the problem during the painful penalty shoot-out loss, putting his tournament status in serious jeopardy.
Losing Saliba would be a devastating blow for both the player and manager Didier Deschamps. The Frenchman is fresh off a monstrous season, making 50 appearances to anchor Arsenal’s Premier League title campaign and lead them to the Champions League final.
If he is ruled out, France will have to rely on a defensive corps that includes Ibrahima Konaté, Jules Koundé and Dayot Upamecano to steady the ship in Group I against Senegal, Iraq and Norway.
2026 FIFA World Cup: How to watch
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will run from June 11 to July 19, 2026. Spread over three countries, the tournament will culminate with the final on July 19 at the New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. All 104 tournament games will be broadcast live across FOX (70) and FS1 (34) with every game streaming live and on-demand on both FOX One and the FOX Sports app. A record 40 games, more than a third of the tournament, are televised in prime time across FOX (21) and FS1 (19).
The June 11 opener between Mexico and South Africa (3 p.m. ET) will stream for free on Tubi, as will the USA’s June 12 opener against Paraguay (9 p.m. ET).
