Pijnaker Faces World Cup Race After Shoulder Dislocation for Auckland FC

All Whites defender Pijnaker doubtful for World Cup with shoulder injury

All Whites defender Nando Pijnaker is in a race to be fit for the World Cup after dislocating his shoulder, adding to New Zealand's defensive injury list.

New Zealand injury crisis deepens as Pijnaker dislocates shoulder...

 

New Zealand defender Nando Pijnaker is in a race to be fit for the World Cup after dislocating his shoulder in Auckland FC’s 2-2 A-League draw with Melbourne Victory over the weekend.

Pijnaker was expected to be one of the centre-backs named in coach Darren Bazeley’s World Cup squad for the June 11 to July 19 finals in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

 

Auckland FC confirmed Pijnaker’s injury on Tuesday but said the Netherlands-born 27-year-old will seek a specialist’s opinion.

 

Dislocated shoulders can take up to 16 weeks to heal. New Zealand open their World Cup campaign against Iran on June 15.

Nando goes down after a heavy collision and can't continue. Hopefully nothing too bad.

SUBSTITUTION - Rogeros ➡️ Pijnaker

⚔️AKL 0-1 MVC 🔵 (35’)#AKLvMVC pic.twitter.com/UFyS4ysHER

— Auckland FC (@fc_auckland) April 11, 2026

Pijnaker joins injured New Zealand defenders Michael Boxall, Tommy Smith, Liberato Cacace and Francis de Vries on the sidelines, while midfielder Sarpreet Singh is also managing a knee problem.

  

There was better news for Bazeley over the weekend as Chris Wood, New Zealand’s captain and leading scorer, played his first match in nearly six months. He featured in Nottingham Forest’s 1-1 Premier League draw with Aston Villa after recovering from knee surgery.

   

New Zealand will also face Egypt and Belgium in the World Cup group stage as the All Whites return to the tournament for the first time since South Africa 2010.