William Saliba Injury Update Emerges After Early Substitution Against Spain in World Cup Semifinal
William Saliba's World Cup ended with a devastating injury before half-time against Spain. The French defender was substituted in agony after the hydration break.
Saliba had been carefully handling his pre-existing injury during training, but eventually couldn't keep up with his health condition.
Before stepping into the dugout, Saliba revealed to his coaching staff about his injury.
What Happened to William Saliba?
Saliba's injury came without any collision.
The center-back clutched his lower back before slowly leaving the field with assistance from the medical staff. Maxence Lacroix replaced him as Didier Deschamps was forced into an early defensive reshuffle.
Television footage captured the Arsenal center-back heading straight down the tunnel without stopping on the bench, raising immediate concerns about the severity of the setback.
It was later reported what Saliba said to his staff. The Arsenal defender said, "My back is gone."
The defender had already missed the France vs. Norway game due to injury management.
The Arsenal centre-back also missed several training sessions earlier in the tournament while following an individualized recovery plan. France's medical staff are closely monitoring the condition.
William Saliba was seen mouthing "My back is gone." as he left the pitch injured vs Spain
— Prime Video Sport UK (@primevideosport) July 14, 2026
A HUGE problem for Deschamps and Arteta pic.twitter.com/N74dFiVVlV
Reports in France suggest the 25-year-old has been playing through discomfort for months, dating back to the latter stages of Arsenal's Premier League title-winning campaign.
For Arsenal, the timing is far from ideal. Saliba remains one of Mikel Arteta's most important players. His prolonged absence would leave a significant gap in the heart of the Gunners' defense.
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This story was originally published July 14, 2026 at 1:38 PM.