Arsenal have confirmed that defender William Saliba will miss an extended period after suffering a back injury during the 2026 FIFA World Cup with France.
Arsenal have confirmed that defender William Saliba will be sidelined for an extended period after sustaining a back injury during the 2026 FIFA World Cup while representing France.
The French centre-back struggled with the problem throughout the tournament in the United States, limiting his ability to train fully as Les Bleus progressed to the latter stages of the competition.
Saliba’s injury eventually forced him off after just 30 minutes of France’s World Cup semi-final defeat to Spain. The defender was then unable to feature in France’s third-place play-off against England as the medical issue worsened.
🚨🔴⚪️ BREAKING: William Saliba will be out for extended period but NO surgery.
“Extensive assessments have concluded that surgery is not recommended, but William should now commence a managed recovery programme”.
•William’s rehabilitation will commence immediately, with… pic.twitter.com/4FgLqQOQZI
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 22, 2026
Following his return to London, Saliba underwent further examinations with Arsenal’s medical staff and specialists. The assessments confirmed that the 24-year-old had suffered a significant back injury that will require a lengthy rehabilitation programme.
In an official statement, Arsenal revealed that surgery will not be necessary after extensive evaluations. Instead, Saliba will begin a carefully managed recovery plan designed to restore him to full fitness over the coming months.
The club also stressed that everyone involved is fully committed to supporting the defender throughout his rehabilitation, with the priority being a complete recovery rather than rushing him back into action.
Saliba’s absence represents a major setback for Arsenal ahead of the new campaign. The France international has established himself as one of the Premier League’s best central defenders and remains a key figure in Mikel Arteta’s title-winning side.
Arsenal will begin the defence of their Premier League crown at home against newly promoted Coventry City on August 21. While the Gunners will hope to start their title defence strongly, they will now have to do so without one of the most important players in their back line as Saliba continues his recovery.
