Bayern Munich rolls to 10-0 romp at FIFA Club World Cup — over a bunch of amateurs
A David versus Goliath match is something you'd expect to see in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup or the FA Cup, but in the Club World Cup? Probably not.
But that's what happened on the second day of the tournament, taking place across the United States, when Bayern Munich – in this case Goliath – decimated Auckland City – David in this particular analogy and an amateur club from New Zealand – 10-0.
The Bundesliga powerhouse outshot Auckland City 31-1 and Jamal Musiala, who entered the match in the 61st minute as a sub, scored a hat-trick. Thomas Müller, Kingsley Coman and Michael Olise each scored two goals apiece as well in the Bayern Munich victory.
4 Bayern Munich defeated Auckland City, 10-0, at TQL Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio,
REUTERS
For anyone wondering how an amateur club is taking part in the Club World Cup, which is being billed as a competition between the best soccer clubs across the globe, they are one of the top teams in the Oceania Champions League.
They've won the Champions League 13 times and in previous iterations of the Club World Cup, they've appeared several times.
What has also helped them make an appearance in the tournament this year – the first under a revamped format that has expanded the Club World Cup to 32 teams – is that New Zealand's two professional teams, Wellington Phoenix and Auckland FC, play in Australia's A-League.
4 Bayern Munich forward #25 Thomas Mueller celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal during the Club World Cup 2025 Group C football match against New Zealand's Auckland City at the TQL stadium in Cincinnati on June 15, 2025
AFP via Getty Images
And since New Zealand is a member of the Oceania Football Confederation and Australia is a member of the Asian Football Confederation, Wellington Phoenix and Auckland FC are barred from competing in continental club competitions for either confederation.
This has set the stage for Auckland City, which features players with traditional day jobs, to compete against some of the biggest clubs in the sport.
4 Bayern Munich forward #25 Thomas Mueller (2ndR) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal during the Club World Cup 2025 Group C football match against New Zealand's Auckland City at the TQL stadium in Cincinnati on June 15, 2025
AFP via Getty Images
'Every [previous] Club World Cup has just involved preparing for the one game,' Auckland City keeper Conor Tracey told ESPN. 'That's unique in itself, and it's been great. But to be guaranteed three of those massive games, and, you could arguably say, against bigger clubs, it's fantastic.
'We all went to the club rooms to watch the draw live as a team, and watching us draw Bayern Munich straight away was ridiculous. My brother turned to me and laughed and said, 'Haha! Harry Kane is going to score 10 past ya!''
When he's not turning away shots on goal, Tracey is a supervisor at a veterinary supply warehouse.
Auckland City's Jordan Vale is a schoolteacher and Haris Zeb works as a delivery guy.
4 FC Bayern Munich forward Kingsley Coman (11) celebrates scoring their fourth goal during a group stage match of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup at TQL Stadium.
Kai Pfaffenbach-Reuters via Imagn Images
'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 said last month in an interview with FIFA.com. 'And next month I'm playing Bayern Munich. It's like I'm leading a double life!'
Auckland will have two more matches in the group stage with their next contest against Portuguese side Benfica on Friday and Argentine club Boca Juniors on June 24.
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