Oceania champions Auckland City FC are preparing for one of the biggest matches in their club’s storied history — a FIFA Club World Cup showdown against European powerhouse FC Bayern Munich.
The two sides will meet tomorrow morning (4amNZT) in Cincinnati, USA, in the opening round of the newly expanded 32-team Club World Cup. For Auckland City, it’s a golden opportunity to take on one of world football’s elite, with German champions Bayern boasting a lineup of global superstars and a record of success on the world stage.
The Navy Blues booked their ticket to the tournament after securing a 12th OFC Champions League title in 2024, continuing their remarkable run as Oceania’s most dominant club. Now under new leadership, the 2025 squad has undergone changes since their last appearance at the FIFA Club World Cup. Long-time head coach Albert Riera and former captain Cam Howieson have both moved on, with the side now led on the field by experienced defender Adam Mitchell and interim head coach Ivan Vicelich.
Auckland City have been acclimatising at their base in Chattanooga, Tennessee, making the most of quality facilities. The team knows the scale of the challenge ahead, with Bayern Munich arriving full of world-class talent including Harry Kane and Joshua Kimmich. The German giants are chasing a fourth FIFA Club World Cup title and are strong favourites.
“We’re preparing like we prepare for any other game, they’ve got some superstars, sure, but we do our analysis, we work hard on the grass, and we’re ready from minute one to minute 90.” Mitchell said.
Still, Auckland City are no strangers to defying the odds. Their unforgettable third-place finish in the 2014 edition remains a benchmark for Oceania teams. The current squad will look to draw inspiration from that legacy while bringing a fresh, fearless attitude to the field.
“We’ve got a lot of experience in this team… a lot of our group has been together for five or six plus years. So, we’ve got that cohesion between us. It’s just about bringing that and the energy on Sunday.” Mitchell added.
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FIFA CLUB WORLD CUP – Group C
Bayern Munich vs Auckland City FC
TQL Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio
KO: Sunday, 15 June 2025, 12:00PM (Local Time) – Monday, 16 June 2025, 4:00 AM (NZT)
AC SQUAD: 1. Conor TRACEY (GK) 2. Mario ILICH (C) 3. Adam MITCHELL 4. Christian GRAY 5. Nikko BOXALL, 6. Jackson MANUEL 7. Myer BEVAN 8. Gerard GARRIGA 9. Angus KILKOLLY 10. Dylan MANICKUM 11. Ryan DE VRIES 12. Regont MURATI 13. Nathan LOBO 14. Jordan VALE, 15. Jeremy FOO, 16. Joe LEE 17. Jerson LAGOS 18. Sebastian CIGANDA (GK) 19. Dylan CONNOLLY, 20. Matt ELLIS, 21. Adam KANUI BELL 22. Tong ZHOU 23. Alfie ROGERS, 24. Nathan GARROW (GK) 25. Michael DEN HEIJER, 26. David YOO, 27. Haris ZEB
Photo Credit| Phototek