Los Angeles, June 16: New Zealand’s football team has suffered a significant blow ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026. Midfielder Matt Garbett has been ruled out of the tournament due to a hamstring injury, as confirmed by the New Zealand Football Federation on Tuesday.
The 24-year-old Garbett sustained the injury during a training session earlier this week. This setback comes just as New Zealand prepares to kick off their first match against Iran at the Sofi Stadium in Los Angeles.
The All Whites issued a statement saying, “Matt Garbett is out of the FIFA World Cup 2026 due to a hamstring injury. The entire team stands with him during this challenging time. We are saddened that he will not be able to participate in the tournament, and we hope he returns to the field soon.”
Garbett has played 38 international matches for New Zealand and scored five goals. Logan Rogerson has been called up to replace him in the 26-member squad.
The injury occurred during a training session in San Diego on Saturday. Following the incident, Garbett did not participate in practice on Sunday and traveled to Los Angeles with the team.
During a press conference held before the match on Monday, head coach Darren Bazeley expressed concerns about Garbett’s fitness. He stated, “Matt is experiencing issues with his hamstring. Our medical team is closely monitoring him. He is disappointed about missing practice today, as he enjoys training regularly. We are currently awaiting the doctors’ advice on his condition.”
This marks New Zealand’s third appearance in the FIFA World Cup, having previously participated in 1982 and 2010. The team’s performance in 1982 in Spain was underwhelming, while they showed improvement in 2010 in South Africa.
New Zealand secured their spot in the 2026 tournament through the first direct World Cup ticket awarded to the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC). Now, the team aims to make an impact in this World Cup hosted in North America, although Garbett’s injury presents a significant challenge.
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