Saliba Cleared for World Cup
France Coach Didier Deschamps Confirms William Saliba Is Fit for Upcoming World Cup
France coach Didier Deschamps has declared William Saliba "fine" and ready to play after injury fears threatened to cloud the Arsenal defender's World Cup preparations. Saliba, 25, played the full 120 minutes of Arsenal's Champions League final loss to Paris Saint-Germain on May 30 before reports emerged of a back injury, according to RMC Sport.
Deschamps moved quickly to calm fears at a press conference on June 3. "William is fine and will be managed," the coach said. "If he had needed to play tomorrow, he would have played. He was ready to play. But he won't play. It's about management." France face Ivory Coast in a warm-up friendly in Nantes on June 4, with Saliba rested as a precaution, Field Level Media reports.
A Back Injury Casts Shadow Over Saliba's World Cup
Reports from L'Equipe and ESPN surfaced on June 1 claiming Saliba had aggravated a pre-existing back problem during the UCL final in Budapest. He underwent medical scans the same day to check the severity of the injury. Some outlets have suggested Saliba may require surgery — but only after the tournament ends.
The physical toll on Saliba is significant. He played 50 games for Arsenal across all competitions this season, Field Level Media notes. That workload, capped by 120 grueling minutes in the UCL final, left him entering France's camp already stretched thin. ESPN and Foot Mercato warn that the official "fine" line may be masking a more serious problem.
Arsenal's Historic Season Sets the Stage
Saliba arrived at France's Clairefontaine training base as a champion. On May 19, Arsenal won the Premier League title for the first time in 22 years — their first since the famous "Invincibles" season of 2004 — after rivals Manchester City drew with Bournemouth, according to BBC Sport. The club celebrated with an open-top bus parade through London on May 24.
But the Champions League final brought heartbreak. Arsenal drew 1-1 with PSG after extra time, then lost 4-3 on penalties in Budapest, BBC Sport reports. While Saliba's PSG-based France teammates — including Ousmane Dembele, Desire Doue, and Warren Zaire-Emery — arrived at camp "smiling and celebrating," Saliba faced a tougher mental reset after the defeat.
Saliba-Upamecano Partnership Seen as France's Defensive Backbone
When fit, Saliba is expected to start alongside Bayern Munich's Dayot Upamecano at the heart of France's defense. Analyst Frank Leboeuf, who won the 1998 World Cup with France, has strongly backed the pairing. "Saliba is a great player, he deserves his place, he had a great season with Arsenal winning the Premier League," Leboeuf said, per Sports Mole.
Pundits widely view the duo as the world's best central defensive partnership. Without Saliba, France would likely turn to Liverpool's Ibrahima Konate or Crystal Palace's Maxence Lacroix as a replacement, according to DAZN News. France open their World Cup campaign against Senegal on June 16 in New Jersey, with Group I also including Iraq and Norway.
Arsenal Worried About Saliba's Fitness Beyond the World Cup
France's confidence in Saliba comes with a catch. Fox News reports that Arsenal's medical team is frustrated by the situation. The club is concerned that managing Saliba through a 48-team, high-intensity tournament — played in the summer heat of North America — could make his back condition worse. Surgery may be needed right after the World Cup ends.
If Saliba does need an operation, he could miss the start of Arsenal's 2026-27 Premier League season. That is a major concern for a club that just ended a 22-year title drought. For now, France plan to bring Saliba back gradually, with a friendly against Northern Ireland in Lille on June 8 seen as the likely target for his return to match action, per Zamin.uz.
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