Arsenal defender William Saliba has been named in the France squad for this summer's World Cup, but the Gunners will be keeping a close eye on his fitness after he sustained a back injury07:09, 02 Jun 2026Arsenal have received an encouraging update on William Saliba's injury situation, with growing optimism that the defender could still participate in the World Cup this summer.‌Saliba has been included in the France squad for this summer's tournament, but concerns arose on Monday that the 25-year-old had sustained an injury.‌Saliba completed the entire 120 minutes for Arsenal on Saturday in their Champions League final defeat to Paris Saint-Germain, having been crucial in helping the Gunners secure the Premier League title throughout the campaign.‌The Arsenal defender was selected by France manager Didier Deschamps for this summer's World Cup, but reports surfaced on Monday suggesting Saliba had picked up a knock and risked missing the competition.FOLLOW OUR ARSENAL FB PAGE! Latest Gunners news and more on our dedicated Facebook pageNow, a fresh update has emerged regarding Saliba's fitness, with optimism that the Arsenal star could still feature for his nation this summer.‌Journalist Fabrice Hawkins has reported that Saliba has sustained a back problem, but is anticipated to join up with his France teammates at a training camp on Tuesday.The report states that Saliba's condition will be assessed following a initial tests which confirmed that the Arsenal defender had a back injury.However, it has been noted that those tests were "reassuring", suggesting that Saliba could still play a significant role for France at this summer's World Cup.‌France will not have long to wait before their World Cup campaign in North America kicks off, with their opening fixture scheduled for Tuesday, June 16 against Senegal in a Group I clash in New Jersey.‌Deschamps' side will then have a few days' rest before facing Iraq in Philadelphia on Monday, June 22, followed by a clash with Norway on Friday, June 26, at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, home of NFL outfit the New England Patriots.Arsenal will be monitoring Saliba's fitness closely throughout the summer, as the club hope to have the defender back fit and available for pre-season training later in the year.A return date for Saliba remains unclear, with the centre-back's return to Arsenal potentially facing further delays should France progress to the latter stages of the World Cup this summer.Article continues belowJoin our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.