All Whites midfielder Matt Garbett raises his hand high against England for a FIFA World Cup starting spot
Tuesday, 9 June 2026
Tampa, Florida: There was a time when Matt Garbett was one of the first names coach Darren Bazeley would write down on his All Whites teamsheets.
That time might have come again, with their FIFA World Cup opener against Iran in Los Angeles now just a week away.
Garbett was not in the starting XI for the 4-0 loss to Haiti in Fort Lauderdale, but looked hungry playing on the left for most of the second half, before shifting to a deeper role late-on.
Brought in to start on the right of the attacking midfield trio against England in Tampa, he was one of the brightest performers as the All Whites lost 1-0, but restored plenty of pride heading into the World Cup.
Captain Chris Wood had spoken before the match of players needing to earn the right to express themselves and Garbett certainly did that, competing physically, while also having the All Whites’ best chance – a shot from the top of the box that forced England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford to react sharply to make a save.
His curled effort followed an incisive run across the pitch and was a reminder of how he is one of the most fearless players in the New Zealand squad – and someone who is capable of making things happen whenever he gets time on the ball.
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After the match, Garbett said: “I’m confident in my abilities. I think I should start [against Iran]. I’m ambitious. I want to start in the best games in the World Cup. Ultimately, it comes down to the decision of the coach, but I thought I showed tonight that I should be on that pitch”.
Few of his team-mates would be willing to make such a declaration, but that sense of confidence is precisely why Garbett is shaping as a likely starter at SoFi Stadium on Tuesday next week (1pm kickoff NZT).
He was clearly feeling good after his hour of action against England and you can trust he won’t be daunted by the occasion or the crowd.
“I always want to play against the best,” he said after facing the likes of Harry Kane – England’s goalscorer – and Jude Bellingham, two of world football’s elites. “I go into games not looking at the names on the back [of opponents’ shirts], just wanting to prove my abilities and test myself. I go into it trying to be fearless and I thought I did that today.”
Garbett made his All Whites debut in October 2021 as a 19-year-old under former coach Danny Hay and was the youngest starter as they lost to Costa Rica in a one-off World Cup qualifying playoff the following June, having risen to the challenge of playing senior international football with little hesitation.
He was a key figure for Bazeley throughout 2023 and 2024, scoring goals against China, the Republic of Ireland, Malaysia and Vanuatu. But when he found himself on the outer and not playing at Dutch club NAC Breda in early 2025, his form took a hit.
While he kept starting matches – and got going again at club level with Peterborough United in England’s third-tier League One – there was a sense that when everybody was fit, he might end up on the bench, and so it proved against Haiti.
Then came his return to the starting XI against England, which has left him confident and looking a key figure once more.
Garbett said he was “100%” in a better place than he was 12 months ago, having really enjoyed his first season at Peterborough, which could yet turn out to be his only one, the club having already turned down a $4m bid for him from another League One club in January.
“We know Garbs,” Bazeley said after the England match. “He adds a lot of energy, he's competitive, but that position is also competitive, and you've got players ready to take those positions if needed.”
Having started both warm-up matches – one on the right and one on the left – and coming off a stellar club season with Motherwell in Scotland, Eli Just looks certain to be one of the starting attacking midfield trio against Iran.
Sarpreet Singh also started both matches, in the middle, but is yet to show the unmatched creative ability that meant his squad spot was never in doubt, even as his return to the Wellington Phoenix for the second half of last season was ruined by a knee injury.
Ben Old and Jesse Randall have looked lively playing on the left, though Old’s half-hour against England came at left back after he replaced Liberato Cacace. There is also a school of thought they are ideal players to inject into a match in the second half, to run at tired defenders.