New Zealand defender Nando Pijnaker is facing a race against time to be fit for the 2026 FIFA World Cup after suffering a dislocated shoulder during Auckland FC’s 2-2 A-League draw with Melbourne Victory.
The 27-year-old centre-back, who was widely expected to feature in head coach Darren Bazeley’s squad, sustained the injury over the weekend. Auckland FC confirmed the setback on Tuesday, adding that the Netherlands-born defender will seek further specialist assessment.
Dislocated shoulder injuries can require up to 16 weeks of recovery, putting Pijnaker’s availability for the tournament in serious doubt. New Zealand begin their campaign on 15 June against Iran, with limited time for recovery.
Pijnaker’s injury compounds a growing defensive crisis for the All Whites. He joins a lengthy list of sidelined defenders including:
Midfielder Sarpreet Singh is also dealing with a knee injury, further stretching Bazeley’s options ahead of the tournament.
There was, however, a positive development for New Zealand. Captain and leading scorer Chris Wood made his long-awaited return from knee surgery, featuring in Nottingham Forest’s 1-1 Premier League draw with Aston Villa—his first appearance in nearly six months.
New Zealand will face a challenging group stage as they prepare for their first World Cup appearance since South Africa 2010, taking on:
With injuries mounting, Bazeley faces a crucial period as he finalises his squad for the tournament in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
