New Zealand midfielders Ryan Thomas and Joe Bell enter the World Cup without match training, while they suffer from leg injuries.
Coach Darren Bazeley told it Stuff on Monday that Thomas will miss the friendlies against Haiti on Tuesday and England on Saturday as he recovers from a hamstring injury.
In any case, Bell will miss the match against Haiti due to a calf problem.
Bazeley is hopeful they will both be available for their World Cup opener against Iran on June 15, but their absence is a setback for the staff’s midfield planning.
“It’s a shame that Thomas probably won’t get the chance to push himself forward in the next two games, and other people have been given that chance, which doesn’t help him, but he’s a good player,” Bazeley said of the Netherlands-based player.
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With the duo sidelined, Alex Rufer and rookie midfielder Lachlan Bayliss are likely to start in midfield with regular Marko Stamenić against Haiti in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Bazeley said he would aim to give most of his squad a point against Haiti, who have qualified for their first World Cup since their debut in 1974.
New Zealand will also play Egypt and Belgium in the World Cup group stages as they return to the global showpiece for the first time since 2010 in South Africa.
Published on June 1, 2026
