William Saliba, France's key central defender, was reported to have a back injury that raised concerns over his participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. However, scans found no serious problems, and Saliba is in good condition, according to France head coach Didier Deschamps[ s1, s2, s3].
Deschamps addressed the injury concerns at a press conference on June 3, saying, "William is fine and will be managed. If he had needed to play tomorrow, he would have played" [1]. He added that Saliba is not expected to play in the friendly match against Ivory Coast in Nantes on June 4 but would be available if needed[ s1, s2, s3].
Saliba played 50 matches for Arsenal during the 2025-26 English Premier League season, helping the club secure the league title and reach the Champions League final[ s1, s2, s3]. Deschamps said the management of player fitness is critical given the tight schedule and the climate conditions in the United States, where the tournament will be held. He noted he must carefully distribute playing time even if it goes against players' strong desire to play. The France squad for the World Cup currently includes 26 players, all reportedly in excellent shape[ s1, s2].
France is preparing for the World Cup with friendlies against Ivory Coast on June 4 and Northern Ireland on June 8, before starting their group stage campaign on June 16 against Senegal. France is drawn in Group I alongside Senegal, Iraq, and Norway[ s1, s2, s3].
France will host the friendly against Ivory Coast today in Nantes. The team will then finalize preparations in Lille on June 8 before traveling to North America for the World Cup start on June 16[ s1, s2, s3].
