Top News

The France national football team has received worrying news just weeks before the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Less than two weeks before the tournament kicks off, star defender William Saliba faces the risk of missing the competition due to a back injury he has been dealing with over the past few weeks.

According to a report from ESPN, the 25-year-old Arsenal centre-back is scheduled to undergo further medical examinations on Monday (1 June 2026) local time to determine the severity of his injury.

Although the results of the scan are still pending, there are concerns that Saliba may require a lengthy recovery period, which could rule him out of the 2026 World Cup with France.

If confirmed, this would be a major blow not only for Saliba, who is currently at the peak of his form, but also for the French squad as a whole.

In addition, losing Saliba would be a significant setback for coach Didier Deschamps, considering the defender is currently regarded as one of the best in the world.

Throughout the 2025/2026 season, Saliba has been a model of consistency for Arsenal.

He made 50 appearances from a total of 63 matches played by the Gunners across all competitions.

His contribution was vital in helping Arsenal secure the Premier League title and reach the UEFA Champions League final.

However, Arsenal failed to end their season with a European trophy after losing to Paris Saint-Germain in a penalty shootout during the final in Budapest last weekend.

Now, France must prepare for the possibility of competing without Saliba at the 2026 World Cup.

As a precaution, Deschamps has already called up several defenders to strengthen Les Bleus.

The list of defenders included in France’s 2026 World Cup squad features Lucas Digne, Malo Gusto, Lucas Hernandez, Theo Hernandez, Ibrahima Konate, Jules Kounde, Maxence Lacroix, and Dayot Upamecano.

Meanwhile, Real Madrid midfielder Eduardo Camavinga is one of the notable omissions from France’s latest squad selection.

France Among the Title Favourites

At the 2026 FIFA World Cup, France will compete in Group I alongside Senegal, Iraq, and Norway.

Les Bleus are widely considered one of the favourites to go deep in the tournament and potentially win the world title.

However, Didier Deschamps has emphasized that his team must not be complacent despite being labelled as favourites.

“I have ambition, and I want my players to have it too. But I don’t want us to lose our humility,” said Deschamps, as quoted by ESPN.

“I won’t hide and say that we’re not one of the teams capable of becoming world champions.”

“But there are eight or even ten teams who can say the same thing. It’s not about shouting that we’re the best or the strongest,” he added.

Now, the attention of French fans is focused on the results of Saliba’s medical examination, which will determine whether the Arsenal defender can participate in the 2026 World Cup or miss out on one of the biggest moments of his career.

Persib Defender Backs France to Win the 2026 World Cup

Support for France to win the 2026 World Cup has been pouring in from various corners.

One notable supporter is Persib Bandung’s veteran defender, Achmad Jufriyanto.

The player, affectionately known as Jupe, revealed that he has been a fan of the French national team since their golden era in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

“I’ve always liked France,” said Achmad Jufriyanto when contacted on Sunday (31 May 2026).

When asked about the reason behind his admiration for Les Bleus, Jupe fondly recalled the golden generation of French football that featured Zinedine Zidane, Thierry Henry, and David Trezeguet.

“Ever since they won the 1998 World Cup and the 2000 Euro, hehe,” he said.

For football fans of that era, France left a lasting impression. After winning the 1998 World Cup on home soil, Les Bleus went on to capture the Euro 2000 title thanks to David Trezeguet’s golden goal in the final against Italy.

Now, ahead of the 2026 World Cup, Jupe once again places his hopes on France.

“Confident and optimistic,” said the player who recently helped Persib Bandung achieve a hat-trick of Super League titles.

He even has a dream scenario for the 2026 World Cup final.

“I hope we meet Argentina again in the final. It would be great to get revenge for the previous edition,” he said.

His statement refers to the 2022 World Cup final, widely regarded as one of the greatest matches in tournament history, where France fell to Argentina in a penalty shootout after a thrilling 3-3 draw over 120 minutes.