William Saliba is not playing for France against England in the 2026 World Cup third-place match because of an injury. The defender is unavailable for Didier Deschamps as France prepare for the meeting at Miami Stadium.
France go into the third-place playoff without one of their key defensive options, which is a significant setback ahead of an important game. Saliba has become an important part of France’s back line, so his absence affects the balance and depth of the team.
The available information indicates that Saliba picked up an injury and was ruled out of the match. No further confirmed details are provided in the trimmed report, but the main reason for his absence is clear: he is not fit to feature against England.
For France, that means Deschamps must adjust his defensive plans for the final fixture of their 2026 World Cup campaign. With England standing in the way, Saliba’s injury leaves France without one of their most reliable defenders for the battle for third place.
