Just hours before kickoff of their opening 2022 FIFA World Cup group stage match against Iran, New Zealand has received a devastating last-minute injury blow: starting midfielder Matt Garbett has been withdrawn from the nation’s 26-man tournament squad.
The news was officially confirmed in a social media statement released by New Zealand Football on Monday, which clarified that the 24-year-old sustained a hamstring strain during a team training session over the weekend.
“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,” the governing body said in its public announcement.
Garbett, who plies his trade for English third-tier club Peterborough United, has been a mainstay in the New Zealand national setup, earning 38 caps and notching five goals for the All Whites. Most recently, he featured in New Zealand’s 1-0 friendly defeat to England in Florida earlier this November, a warm-up fixture designed to prepare the side for their World Cup campaign.
To fill the vacant spot in the squad, New Zealand Football has called up Logan Rogerson, a forward from domestic side Auckland FC, who will travel with the team for the remainder of the tournament.
This World Cup marks New Zealand’s first appearance at soccer’s global flagship event in 12 years, with their last tournament run dating back to 2010 in South Africa. Drawn into Group G, the side faces far stiffer competition, grouped alongside Iran, African powerhouse Egypt and European giants Belgium as they fight to advance out of the group stage for the first time in their history.