Auckland FC dealt major blow as All Whites defender Francis de Vries ruled out for rest of regular season

Tuesday, 31 March 2026

Auckland FC have been dealt a major injury blow with star defender Francis de Vries set to miss the remainder of the A-League Men regular season due a calf injury.

One of Auckland’s most important players, de Vries suffered the calf sprain late in the first half of the All Whites’ FIFA Series match against Finland at Eden Park last Friday.

He was immediately replaced by James McGarry and sat out Monday’s 4-1 win over Chile, with Ben Old shifting from left wing to cover his absence at left back.

The All Whites were already without first-choice left back Liberato Cacace, who has not played for his club, Wrexham AFC, since February due a hamstring injury.

Although the injury shouldn’t impact his World Cup participation, de Vries faces a six-week stint on the sidelines, which means he won’t be back on the pitch for Auckland FC until a potential semifinal.

“It’s his first injury in two years, so it’s not great timing for us or the All Whites,” Auckland coach Steve Corica admitted.

Regarded among the best crossers in the A-League, de Vries has played a major part in Auckland’s early success.

He has started all 50 games since their debut in October 2024 and leads the team with seven assists this season.

Auckland FC are firmly on track to play finals football for the second year in a row but trail the high-flying Newcastle Jets by five points in the race for the Premiers Plate after a shock 2-1 loss to Macarthur in their last outing.

While there’s no obvious replacement for de Vries at left back in the Auckland squad, captain Hiroki Sakai’s return could see Callan Elliot move over from the right.

Sakai has been plagued with injuries of his own but Corica confirmed the former Japanese international would travel to Adelaide.

“It’s a blow, obviously, because he’s played basically every minute and started every game,” added Corica.

“A lot of our play goes down the left-hand side with him and Jesse [Randall] and his deliveries into the box and his set-pieces are vital for us, but that’s football, injuries happen and we have to find a solution while he’s out.”

Both teams scored stoppage time goals in a wild 2-2 draw on Auckland’s only previous visit to Adelaide, in round 14 of the 2024-25 season.

The All Whites delivered the perfect send-off in their final home game before the World Cup, capitalising on an early red card by scoring four goals to claim their first win against South American opposition.

Though thrilled with the performance against Chile, coach Darren Bazeley said confirmation of de Vries’s injury took some of the gloss off the result.

“It’s a dampener. It’s never nice when players get injured and Franny is such a good person, such a good player and so important for Auckland – and us,” Bazeley said.

“It was a blow to lose him from that first game and it looks like he’s going to be out for a weeks and miss the run-in for Auckland, and that’s a real shame.”

The All Whites are next in action on June 7 – facing world No 4 England in a tough final pre-tournament tune-up in Florida.