France hit with major injury blow that's causing 'major concern' just days before World Cup

World Cup 2026 kicks off in 10 days and the 48 squads are starting to arrive in the United States, Canada and Mexico for their training camps and warm-up friendlies.

Arsenal and PSG players are among the last to link up with their international teammates. The two Champions League finalists were exempt from releasing their players for World Cup duty at FIFA's deadline but the players are now fully focused on the 23rd World Cup.

France are one of the favourites to win the competition. Les Bleus reached the last two World Cup finals, winning in Russia in 2018 and losing in Qatar in 2022, and have become used to having one of the most talented and deepest squads in the tournament.

Didier Deschamps, who has captained and managed France to their two World Cup wins, will lead his 26-man squad in warm-up matches against the Ivory Coast and Northern Ireland before getting their Group I campaign underway.

Gunners centre-back William Saliba was named in the squad and played all 120 minutes of the Champions League final in Budapest on Saturday, but is feeling the effects of a previous injury, according to reports.

The 25-year-old's participation in the World Cup is in doubt, and the French Football Federation (FFF) is understood to be concerned about his injury status.

"William Saliba could be sidelined for several weeks," reports Santi Aouna of Foot Mercato.

"Already compromised before the match against PSG, William Saliba worsened his injury during the game.

"The Frenchman is still in pain and his condition is causing genuine concern within the FFF just days before the World Cup."

France's World Cup 2026 schedule

Saliba has played for France 31 times since his senior international debut in 2022. Deschamps has very adequate alternatives but the Arsenal defender's absence would be unwelcome.

He was part of the French squad that reached the final of the 2022 World Cup, making one appearance from the bench in their last group game against Tunisia.

After facing Ivory Coast and Northern Ireland, France's first group stage fixture pits them against Senegal at MetLife Stadium, 24 years after the Lions of Teranga beat the world and European champions in Seoul in the first match of the 2002 World Cup.

Deschamps' side will then play Iraq in Philadelphia and Norway at Gillette Stadium.