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Arsenal defender William Saliba could be forced to undergo back surgery immediately after the upcoming World Cup as his physical discomfort continues to intensify.
Despite successfully managing the issue to play a leading role for the Gunners, recent medical assessments indicate that the centre-back requires long-term surgery.
Gunners Star handling the upset
According to reports from L’EquipeArsenal centre-back Saliba could undergo back surgery following his international commitments this summer. The 25-year-old defender has been suffering from a persistent back problem for several weeks.
While the injury did not prevent him from completing the full 120 minutes in Saturday’s UEFA Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain, the pain has reportedly worsened since that big event.
The place for the World Cup is preserved
Initial evaluations of foot market It sparked fears that the defender would face a long period of inactivity, which would have seriously jeopardized his place in Didier Deschamps’ plans.
While Saliba’s representatives expressed great concern about the setback, the French team’s medical staff were much more optimistic.
Crucially, a subsequent round of medical tests carried out on Monday returned positive results, clearing the centre-back to participate in the next tournament.
Club aware of the dismissal
Arsenal officials were already aware that they would probably not be able to count on the reliable defender immediately after the tournament.
The Premier League champions understand that the necessary surgery is tentatively scheduled for late summer.
While Saliba is expected to represent The bluesThere are now major internal concerns at the Emirates Stadium that he will miss the start of the next domestic campaign.
The challenge of the global tournament looms
Saliba, who made 50 appearances during Arsenal’s title-winning campaign, will now focus on his second world tournament with France after previously appearing at Qatar 2022.
He joins Dayot Upamecano, Ibrahima Konate and Maxence Lacroix as Deschamps’ chosen central defensive options. Les Bleus open their Group I campaign against Senegal on June 16, a match that evokes memories of their infamous 1-0 defeat in 2002.
FIFA World Cup 2026: How to watch
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will take place from June 11 to July 19, 2026. Spread across 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 matches of the tournament will be broadcast live on FOX (70) and FS1 (34) and each match will be streamed live and on-demand on both FOX One and the FOX Sports app. A record 40 matches, more than a third of the tournament, will be broadcast in prime time on FOX (21) and FS1 (19).
The June 11 opening match between Mexico and South Africa (3 p.m. ET) will be streamed for free on Tubi, as will the United States’ opening match against Paraguay on June 12 (9 p.m. ET).
