A hamstring injury has ended Matt Garbett's World Cup and stalled potential transfer moves for the New Zealand midfielder. The 24-year-old Peterborough United player suffered the setback just before the tournament, requiring surgery and a recovery period back home.
Garbett was withdrawn from the All Whites squad before their opening group match against Iran, with Logan Rogerson of Auckland FC called up as his replacement. Peterborough owner Darragh MacAnthony expects Garbett to be available again after the September international window, potentially returning to action next month. The injury comes at a difficult time for the national side, who sit 4th in their World Cup group with 1 point from three games, having lost their last two matches.
What does the injury mean for his club future?
Matt Garbett has not been allocated a squad number for the new English League One season with Peterborough, though he can receive one upon his return to fitness. The club had rejected a reported offer of £1.7 million (NZ$3.9 million) for the midfielder back in January. MacAnthony had hoped strong World Cup performances would increase Garbett's value to around £3 million (NZ$6.9 million), but the injury has complicated that plan.
Despite the setback, interest in buying the player remains. "There are clubs willing to negotiate potentially to buy him before the window closes knowing he’s back two or three weeks later," MacAnthony said. However, he doubts a deal will be completed before the summer transfer window closes on September 1. Garbett's absence is a blow for a New Zealand team that has scored 4 goals but conceded 10 in the tournament so far.
How did Matt Garbett reach this point?
The Wellington-born midfielder made his senior debut for Western Suburbs before spells with Eastern Suburbs and Team Wellington. His career took him to Swedish club Falkenbergs FF, and he signed for Italian side Torino after impressing at the Tokyo Olympics. He became a key part of the All Whites during the 2022 World Cup qualifiers.
In May 2023, he signed a two-year deal with NAC Breda, initially on loan from Torino, with an option for a third year. He joined Peterborough United from the Dutch club in August 2025 and established himself during his first season in English football. Garbett, who has 38 caps and 5 goals for New Zealand, also captained the OlyWhites at the 2024 Paris Olympics. He had been expected to feature prominently at the 2026 World Cup before his injury.
What comes next for the All Whites and Garbett?
Darragh MacAnthony believes the midfielder can return strongly. "He will come back with a vengeance, Matty, and he’ll attack either League One or the Championship," the owner stated, suggesting Garbett could earn another opportunity at a higher level. For the national team, the focus shifts to their next fixture, an away match against Panama on October 1. You can track the team's upcoming schedule on our fixtures page and view the full roster on our squad page.
The All Whites' recent form shows the challenge ahead, with zero wins in their last five games (LLDDL). They are 4 points behind group leaders Belgium, who beat them 5-1 on June 27. Garbett's recovery and eventual return will be a welcome boost as the team looks to improve its standing. For now, his immediate future involves regaining fitness with Peterborough while the transfer speculation cools.
