SouthernWorldwide.com – Arsenal defender William Saliba is reportedly facing the prospect of immediate back surgery following the conclusion of the upcoming World Cup, as his persistent physical discomfort shows no signs of abating.
Although Saliba has managed to play a crucial role for the Gunners throughout the season, recent medical evaluations suggest that the center-back’s condition necessitates long-term surgical intervention.
According to reports from French publication L’Equipe, Saliba’s surgery could take place after his international duties conclude this summer. The 25-year-old defender has been dealing with a chronic back issue for several weeks.
Despite this ongoing pain, he was able to complete the full 120 minutes in Arsenal’s UEFA Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain. However, sources indicate that his discomfort has intensified since that high-stakes match.
Initial concerns, as reported by Foot Mercato, had raised fears of a prolonged absence for Saliba, which would have significantly impacted his availability for France’s national team manager, Didier Deschamps.
While Saliba’s representatives had expressed considerable worry over the setback, the medical staff of the France national team appeared more optimistic about his immediate playing prospects.
Crucially, a subsequent series of medical examinations conducted on Monday provided positive outcomes, ultimately clearing the center-back to participate in the forthcoming international tournament.
Arsenal officials were already aware that they would likely be without the dependable defender for a period immediately following the tournament.
The Premier League champions understand that the surgery Saliba requires is provisionally scheduled for the end of the summer period.
While Saliba is expected to represent Les Bleus, there are now significant internal concerns at the Emirates Stadium that he will miss the commencement of the next domestic season.
Saliba, who featured in 50 matches during Arsenal’s title-winning campaign, will now turn his attention to his second global tournament with France, having previously participated in the Qatar 2022 World Cup.
He joins Dayot Upamecano, Ibrahima Konate, and Maxence Lacroix as the central defensive options selected by Deschamps. Les Bleus are set to open their Group I campaign against Senegal on June 16, a fixture that inevitably brings to mind their notable 1-0 defeat in 2002.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is scheduled to take place from June 11 to July 19, 2026. The tournament will be hosted across three countries, with the final match scheduled for July 19 at the New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. All 104 matches of the tournament will be broadcast live across FOX (70 matches) and FS1 (34 matches), with every game available for live streaming and on-demand viewing through both the FOX One and the FOX Sports app. A record 40 matches, representing over a third of the tournament’s schedule, will be aired in prime time across FOX (21 matches) and FS1 (19 matches).
The opening match on June 11, featuring Mexico and South Africa, is slated to kick off at 3 p.m. ET and will be streamed for free on Tubi. Similarly, the United States’ opening match against Paraguay on June 12, also at 9 p.m. ET, will be available for streaming.
