Chris Wood and Joe Bell out, Alex Rufer in, as All Whites make squad changes

New Zealand captain Chris Wood and midfielder Joe Bell have joined defender Tim Payne as injury-forced withdrawals from the squad to play two internationals in Egypt.

Their withdrawals have opened the way for in-form Wellington Phoenix captain Alex Rufer to join the squad as a replacement.

Main photo: Eight-cap Alex Rufer has earned a recall to the New Zealand team.

NZ Football have confirmed the trio will miss the All Whites matches against Egypt and either Tunisia or Croatia.

Wood left the field with an apparent injury in his weekend English Premier League game for Nottingham Forest against Luton Town.

Payne was forced to leave the pitch early with a hamstring injury during the 2-1 win by the Phoenix against Sydney at Auckland’s Eden Park.

Rufer will join Phoenix clubmates Kosta Barbarouses, Ben Old, Finn Surman, Alex Paulsen and Lukas Kelly-Heald in Cairo. His last appearance for New Zealand was in a scoreless draw with China in March 2023.

Meanwhile, the March internationals have undergone more changes of venue.

Saturday’s game between New Zealand and Egypt will be played at the 90,000-capacity New Administrative Capital Stadium instead of the Cairo International Stadium.

The four-nation series between New Zealand, Tunisia, Croatia and hosts Egypt has been added to FIFA’ pilot scheme to encourage matches between countries that do not normally meet in competition.

The series was first promoted as the W Cup in New Zealand but as the Winsunited Cup elsewhere, with the games set to take place in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

However, the games were moved to Egypt after the participating nations claimed a breach of contract by the tournament organisers.

The tournament is now called the ACUD International Football Cup.

READ MORE: ‘Breach of key contract clauses’ leads to change of match venues for All Whites >>>>

READ MORE: World body launches scheme to help boost lower-ranked football nations >>>>

Both New Zealand’s games will be streamed live and free by FIFA+.

Fixtures

Game to be played on Saturday March 23, 2024

Egypt v New Zealand
New Administrative Capital Stadium, Cairo, 9am (NZT)

Game to be played on Sunday March 24, 2024 

Tunisia v Croatia
New Administrative Capital Stadium, Cairo, kick-off 9am (NZT)

Game to be played on Tuesday March 26, 2024 (NZT)

Play-off for third place
Air Defence Stadium, Cairo, kick-off 9am (NZT)

Game to be played on Wednesday, March 27, 2024 (NZT)

Final
New Administrative Capital Stadium, Cairo, kick-off 9am (NZT)

Squads

READ MORE: New Egypt manager names his first squad for March match against All Whites >>>>

READ MORE: All Whites squad named for March internationals >>>>

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