New Zealand midfielder Matt Garbett has been ruled out of the FIFA World Cup 2026 after suffering a hamstring injury during training, the country's football federation confirmed on Tuesday, 16 June. The blow comes ahead of the All Whites' opening group-stage match against Iran at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.

The Injury and Official Confirmation

Garbett, 24, picked up the injury during New Zealand's penultimate training session in San Diego on Saturday local time. He was unable to train on Sunday before the squad travelled to Los Angeles, and was subsequently ruled out of the entire tournament.

The All Whites issued a statement confirming the news: 'All Whites attacker Matt Garbett has been ruled out of the FIFA World Cup 2026 after picking up a hamstring injury. The whole squad's thoughts are with Matt at this time and we are gutted he won't be able to play in the tournament. We look forward to seeing him back on the pitch soon.'

Replacement Named in Squad

Garbett, who has made 38 appearances for New Zealand and scored 5 goals, has been replaced in the 26-man squad by Logan Rogerson. The midfielder's absence is a significant setback given his experience and attacking output at international level.

Coach Bazeley Had Flagged Concern

Head coach Darren Bazeley had hinted at the injury concern during a pre-match press conference on Monday, revealing the player was being closely monitored. 'He had a hamstring issue yesterday. So, at this stage he's being monitored by the physio department. We've got great medical people looking at him. He's obviously disappointed to not train today. He's a player that you know likes to train every single day. So yeah, that was tough for him, we're waiting to find out more medical advice on him at this stage,' Bazeley said.

New Zealand's World Cup Context

This is only New Zealand's third FIFA World Cup appearance, following campaigns in 1982 (Spain) and 2010 (South Africa). The All Whites secured their place in this edition by claiming the first direct qualification slot available to the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) — a historic milestone. Notably, the gap between their first two World Cup appearances was nearly 28 years, making their return to the global stage in North America all the more significant.

What Happens Next

With Garbett officially replaced and the squad confirmed, New Zealand will now look to Rogerson and the remaining squad to fill the attacking void. The All Whites' World Cup campaign in Group play continues, with the team aiming to make a stronger impression than in previous tournaments. The opening match against Iran at SoFi Stadium is currently underway.