All Whites coach will hold World Cup door open for Ryan Thomas as long as possible
Wednesday, 26 March 2025
Ryan Thomas hasn’t played for the All Whites for more than five years, but coach Darren Bazeley will leave the door open for him as long as possible as the team’s FIFA World Cup preparations ramp up.
The 30-year-old midfielder has been hit hard by injuries during the last seven seasons, where he has played just 19% of the minutes available to him at his two Dutch clubs, PSV Eindhoven and PEC Zwolle, after playing 62% during his first five seasons in the Netherlands.
In November 2019, while at PSV, he was arguably the best player on the pitch – from either team – as the All Whites lost 3-1 to the Republic of Ireland in Dublin, but he hasn’t added to his 19 caps for New Zealand’s national men’s football team since, even during periods when he has been fit.
It has been Thomas’ choice to be unavailable ever since the All Whites returned to action after a near two-year break as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, with his desire to return to full fitness at club level and to help raise his young family cited by Bazeley and his predecessor Danny Hay as the two reasons why.
Thomas recently made his first starts for PEC Zwolle in the Dutch Eredivisie since December 2023, having recovered from his latest round of knee surgery, and declared in an interview with Dutch football magazine Voetball international published last week: “I have never felt so good in my career. I really mean that”.
Combine that strong assertion with the fact that he was in contact with All Whites captain Chris Wood in the immediate aftermath of Monday night’s Oceania World Cup qualifying final win over New Caledonia at Eden Park in Auckland and there is plenty of reason to believe a return could be on the cards.
“He got in contact to say congratulations and well done,” Wood said on Tuesday.
“Obviously he's playing well over in Holland. He's back from injury and playing week in week out at the moment, which is fantastic. It's nice to see him doing well.”
Asked if he would like to have Thomas back in the fold for the World Cup, Wood said: “That's a decision he has to make for him and his family.
“I think he's focused on being fully fit for for a long period of time for club football.
“That's the main thing, and after that, he can worry about other things, but he will always do what's right for him and him and his family.”
Bazeley said he has been in regular contact with Thomas during his two years as All Whites coach, knowing that he would be one of the team’s best players if available.
“He's a super player. He's a very good player. Potentially, the World Cup might be a nice carrot for him to come and put the shirt on.
“In the conversations I've had with Ryan, he's obviously been through a lot fitness-wise, injury-wise, and he probably needs a good six months playing at club level before he even contemplates taking on extra load.
“It's great to hear that he's in a good place. He's told me that feels good and feels fit.
“That's exciting and we will always leave the door open.”
The All Whites will next be in action in Toronto in June, playing Côte d’Ivoire and Ukraine, and also have a match against Norway in Oslo announced for October.
It is understood another fixture against Poland is in store that month, with September possibly featuring home matches, likely against Asian opposition, and November featuring friendlies in North America, where the World Cup will be held next year, though fixture plans are always fluid until they are locked in and announced.
Bazeley said that while he would definitely be talking to Thomas ahead of the June window, “we’ll never put any pressure on him”.
“He’s always one that we will have an open door for.”
All Whites’ road to the 2026 FIFA World Cup
June 2025: Friendlies v Côte d’Ivoire and Ukraine in Toronto
September 2025: To be confirmed, likely friendlies at home v Asian opposition
October 2025: Friendly v Norway in Oslo announced, friendly v Poland TBC
November 2025: TBC, likely friendlies in North America, but not necessarily v North American teams
March 2026: TBC
June 2026: TBC