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Arsenal defender William Saliba could be forced to undergo back surgery immediately after the upcoming World Cup as his ongoing physical discomfort continues to intensify.
Despite successfully managing the problem to play a leading role for the Gunners, recent medical assessments indicate the centre-back requires long-term surgery.
Gunners Star Deals With Discomfort
According to reports from The TeamArsenal central defender 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.
Although his injury did not prevent him from playing the full 120 minutes of Saturday’s UEFA Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain, the pain has reportedly worsened since that showpiece event.
Place preserved for the World Cup
First evaluations of Mercato on foot raised fears that the defender would face a long absence, which would have seriously compromised his place in Didier Deschamps’ plans.
While Saliba’s representatives expressed their deep concern over this setback, the French team’s medical staff remained much more optimistic.
Importantly, a series of subsequent medical examinations carried out on Monday yielded positive results, allowing the central defender to participate in the next tournament.
The club is aware of the dismissal
Arsenal officials were already aware that they would probably not be able to count on the reliable defender right after the tournament.
The Premier League champions understand that the necessary surgery is tentatively scheduled for late summer.
While Saliba should represent The Bluesthere are now significant 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 having already featured at Qatar 2022.
He joins Dayot Upamecano, Ibrahima Konate and Maxence Lacroix as central defensive options chosen by Deschamps. Les Bleus open their Group I campaign against Senegal on June 16, a match reminiscent 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 New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. All 104 tournament games will be broadcast live on FOX (70) and FS1 (34), with each game streamed live and on-demand in the FOX One and FOX Sports apps. A record 40 games, 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, along with the United States’ opening match against Paraguay on June 12 (9 p.m. ET).
