William Saliba's participation at this summer's World Cup is looking uncertain after the Arsenal and France defender worsened an injury in Saturday's Champions League final
12:01, 01 Jun 2026Updated 12:16, 01 Jun 2026
William Saliba could miss the World Cup due to injury
View Image
William Saliba could miss the World Cup due to injury(Image: Getty Images)
Arsenal defender William Saliba could miss the World Cup after aggravating an injury during Saturday's Champions League final defeat to Paris Saint-Germain.
Saliba, 25, played all 120 minutes of the showpiece Budapest final as Mikel Arteta's side lost to PSG on penalties, following a 1-1 draw after extra-time. Gabriel Magalhaes smashed the decisive spot-kick over the bar as the Gunners missed out on winning Europe's elite club competition for the first time.
But, according to Foot Mercato, Saliba was playing with a minor injury, which was aggravated during the defeat to PSG at the Puskas Arena. It's claimed that Saliba's latest setback could even threaten his participation at the upcoming World Cup in North America, which is due to start on Thursday, June 11.
Saliba has established himself in France's first-choice centre-back partnership alongside Bayern Munich's Dayot Upamecano. However, manager Didier Deschamps may have to reconstruct his central defensive pairing, at least for the start of the World Cup, with France's first game taking place on Tuesday, June 16 against Senegal.
MORE TO FOLLOW.We'll bring you the very latest updates, pictures and video on this breaking news story.For the latest news and breaking news, visit football.london. Get all the big headlines, pictures, analysis, opinion and video on the stories that matter to you for the capital's clubs.Shining a light on the issues fans really want to know about and providing rolling coverage of the latest news, football.london's writers give you the bigger picture on your club by knowing the little details inside-out.Follow us on X @‌Football_LDN - for the all latet news as it happens in real time.Sign up for one of Football London's free daily and weekly newsletters on your club by clicking here.