🌎 The Club World Cup guide to...Auckland City
Our guide to all 32 clubs participating at the FIFA Club World Cup continues.
You can check out the full list so far here.
Today we're looking at...Auckland City.
How did they qualify for the Club World Cup?
📸 Hagen Hopkins - 2017 Getty Images
Advertisement
Auckland City secured their spot in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup by winning the 2022 and 2023 OFC Champions League titles. FIFA awarded Oceania one guaranteed place in the expanded 32-team tournament and Auckland, as the highest-ranked club in the region over the four years leading up to the event, clinched qualification. They are though, the only amateur side heading to the United States this summer.
History at the Club World Cup
Auckland City have a notable history in the FIFA Club World Cup, having qualified for the tournament on 13 previous occasions. Their best performance came in 2014 when they finished third, marking their most significant achievement on the world stage
How did they perform in the 2024/25 season?
Auckland City finished second in the New Zealand National League and were runners-up in the Chatham Cup. They were more successful on the continent however, winning the OFC Champions League.
Who is the coach?
New Zealand-born Paul Posa is the current head coach of Auckland but is unable to attend the tournament so interim boss Ivan Vicelich will take his place.
Who is their star player?
Myer Bevan is the name to look out for when the Kiwi giants kick off their tournament against Bayern Munich on June 15. The 28-year-old forward returned to the club last September for his fourth separate spell.
Expected performance at the Club World Cup
Named alongside Bayern Munich, Boca Juniors and Benfica, the New Zealand outfit will struggle to get out of the group.
📸 Hagen Hopkins - 2017 Getty Images
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
26 minutes ago
- Yahoo
How did Bayern Munich win 10-0 at the Club World Cup? Their opponents were amateurs
Frome the left, Bayern Munich's Joshua Kimmich, Harry Kane and Thomas Muller reacts after a goal during the Club World Cup group C soccer match between Bayern Munich and Auckland City in Cincinnati, Sunday, June 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean) FIFA and its president, Gianni Infantino, had billed the Club World Cup as "THE BEST v THE BEST," as the "the 32 best club teams in the world," and the "pinnacle" of soccer. But on the second day of this novel tournament, in the second game, their pitch unraveled when the sixth best team met No. 5,074. Bayern Munich smashed Auckland City, 10-0, and bemused viewers wondered: Huh? How? Advertisement Well, because Bayern Munich is the perennial champion of Germany, and Auckland City is an amateur team. Yes, an amateur team. On one side, there was Harry Kane and $465 million worth of talent. On the other, there was Conor Tracey, goalkeeper by night, supervisor at a veterinary supply warehouse by day. On one side, there were World Cup winners. On the other, there were everyday New Zealanders who work everyday jobs, and had to take leave — some paid, some unpaid — to come play in a soccer tournament. There was Dylan Manickum, a 32-year-old construction site engineer; and Michael Den Heijer, a program coordinator at a youth-focused non-profit. There were barbers and real estate agents, personal fitness coaches and students. There was Angus Kilkolly, a regional manager for a tool company; and Jordan Vale, a schoolteacher; and Haris Zeb, a delivery guy. Advertisement "This week, I'm waking up to load the car with parcels, knocking on doors, dogs are barking mad and chasing me down driveways," Zeb told last month. "And next month I'm playing Bayern Munich. It's like I'm leading a double life!" Collectively, their flights to the U.S. for this inaugural Club World Cup cost about twice as much as Auckland City's annual revenue. Bayern's squad, on the other hand, per Transfermarkt, is worth more than $1 billion. So of course the German giants turned Sunday's game into a stroll and a blowout. Of course Jamal Musiala (price tag: $161 million) scored a hat trick after entering as a substitute in the 61st minute. Advertisement This was, quite possibly, one of the biggest mismatches in men's club soccer history. Why is amateur Auckland City in the Club World Cup? Auckland City are actually veterans of the Club World Cup — the former seven-team version, pre-expansion — because they are, by far, the most powerful club affiliated with Oceania. Over the past two decades, they've won the region's Champions League 13 times. But there are caveats. In New Zealand, where rugby is king, the few legitimate professional clubs compete in Australia's A-League. Those clubs — Wellington Phoenix and Auckland FC — are therefore ineligible for the Oceania Champions League. Advertisement And the Champions League was the natural route to this Club World Cup — which, to fulfill its pledge of "making football truly global," needed representation from every continent. FIFA, of course, weighted that representation. It gave 12 spots to Europe, and six to South America, and four each to Asia, Africa and North/Central America. Oceania, though, got one guaranteed spot — and Auckland City easily claimed it. Domestically, and when they fly to Champions League games throughout the South Pacific, the so-called Navy Blues are giants themselves. They control the ball and dominate games. Although they are amateurs or semi-pros, many of them were and are talented players who competed at colleges or elite youth clubs. But they were no match for Bayern Munich. Advertisement Their unsurprising inferiority made for an uncomfortable watch, and an extremely awkward two hours for DAZN's commentators. "I'm almost hoping it doesn't get to double figures," color commentator Steve McManaman said late in the second half. Alas, it did — thanks to Thomas Muller, who capped the afternoon in Cincinnati with his 250th goal for Bayern. Auckland City's other two games in Group C will be against Argentine giant Boca Juniors and Portugal's Benfica.
USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
USMNT vs. Trinidad and Tobago: TV channel, time and how to watch Concacaf Gold Cup
USMNT vs. Trinidad and Tobago: TV channel, time and how to watch Concacaf Gold Cup Show Caption Hide Caption Weston McKennie: Landon Donovan's dig at Christian Pulisic was sad U.S. Men's National Team standout Weston McKennie reacts to Landon Donovan's comments regarding Christian Pulisic. Sports Seriously The U.S. men's national team is short-handed and under intense scrutiny as it kicks off its 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup campaign with a game against Trinidad and Tobago. The USMNT's biggest star, Christian Pulisic, will controversially be rested for the tournament, while other big names like Weston McKennie are instead obliged to play at the overlapping FIFA Club World Cup. Making matters worse, a 4-0 embarrassment at the hands of Switzerland on Tuesday served as a reminder that entry-level basics in terms of intensity and effort have been in question for some time now. Manager Mauricio Pochettino — who came in at significant expense after the U.S. badly underwhelmed at the 2024 Copa América — has run into the same sorts of issues that sunk his predecessor, Gregg Berhalter. On a four-game losing streak for the first time since 2007, the USMNT is under pressure to produce a comfortable win over the Soca Warriors. Here is what to know for Sunday's Gold Cup game between the USMNT and Trinidad and Tobago: Concacaf Gold Cup 2025: How to watch, game times, USMNT and Mexico schedule What time is USMNT vs. Trinidad and Tobago at Concacaf Gold Cup? The Concacaf Gold Cup group stage game pairing the USMNT with Trinidad and Tobago is set for 6 p.m. ET, with PayPal Park in San Jose, Calif. hosting. How to watch USMNT vs. Trinidad and Tobago Gold Cup game: TV, stream Time: 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT Location: PayPal Park (San Jose, Calif.) PayPal Park (San Jose, Calif.) TV: Fox Fox Stream: Fubo Watch USMNT vs. Trinidad and Tobago with a free trial of Fubo
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
🌎 The Club World Cup guide to...Palmeiras
Our guide to all 32 clubs participating at the FIFA Club World Cup continues. You can check out the full list so far here. Today we're looking How did they qualify for the Club World Cup? 📸 Ernesto Ryan - 2021 Getty Images Advertisement Palmeiras secured their spot in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup by winning the 2023/24 Copa Libertadores, South America's premier club competition. This victory earned them direct entry into the tournament. History at the Club World Cup 📸 GIUSEPPE CACACE Palmeiras has participated in two editions of the FIFA Club World Cup. Their most notable performance came in 2021 when they reached the final but were narrowly defeated by Chelsea. How did they perform in the 2024/25 season? At the time of writing, Palmeiras are the best team in Brazil and arguably the best in all of South America. The Sao Paulo side are currently top of their domestic league and are through to the Who is the coach? Palmeiras are managed by Portuguese coach Abel Ferreira. Since joining the club in 2020, Ferreira has led Palmeiras to two Copa Libertadores titles and two Brazilian championships. Who is their star player? Palmeiras' standout player is Estêvão Willian, an 18-year-old winger who has been compared to some of the game's greats. Known for his dribbling, creativity and finishing ability, Estêvão has signed for Chelsea but will remain with Palmeiras for the Club World Cup. Expected performance at the Club World Cup Palmeiras have been drawn alongside Inter Miami, Al Ahly and Porto in Group A and will fancy their chances to finish in the top two. 📸 AIZAR RALDES - AFP or licensors
