Bayern's Thrashing Of Auckland City Lays Bare Club World Cup Fallacy
CINCINNATI, OHIO - JUNE 15: Jonathan Tah #4 celebrates with Kingsley Coman #11 of FC Bayern Munchen ... More after Coman scored the team's first goal during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 group C match between FC Bayern München and Auckland City FC at TQL Stadium on June 15, 2025 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by)
Auckland City described itself as the 'working class team of the Club World Cup' ahead of its debut in FIFA's latest jamboree and vowed to do amateur soccer proud.
It was a noble sentiment, but the days when nobility of heart won games are long gone, if they ever existed to begin with.
In their 10-0 evisceration against Bayern Munich on Saturday, Auckland City looks exactly what it is - an amateur team facing up to one of the giants of European soccer.
Put it another way, according to Opta Bayern is fourth in the world rankings, while Auckland ranks 4,928th.
The chasm in quality was laid brutally bare as Bayern raced into a 6-0 lead at half-time courtesy of two goals each from Kingsley Coman and Michael Olise and one apiece from Sacha Boey and Thomas Mueller.
The latter added a second with 89 minutes played after Jamal Musiala had helped himself to a hat-trick.
Taken in a vacuum, there is nothing particularly unusual about the Bundesliga champions thrashing a non-professional side by 10 goals.
But this kind of mismatch lent credence to the criticism the FIFA Club World Cup features teams that have no business taking on the world's best.
When he announced the new tournament some nine years ago, FIFA President Gianni Infantino proclaimed the Club World Cup would pit together 'the best 32 clubs in the world'.
The suggestion appeared wide of the mark before a ball was kicked in anger and even more so now.
Auckland's city players pose ahead of the Club World Cup 2025 Group C football match between ... More Germany's Bayern Munich and New Zealand's Auckland City at the TQL stadium in Cincinnati on June 15, 2025. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP) (Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images)
Qualification for the Club World Cup followed two main routes: success in continental competitions over a three-year period between 2021 and 2024 and each confederation's ranking system.
In practical terms, it means Liverpool, Napoli and Barcelona, who won the title in England, Italy and Spain this season are all absent.
The same goes for Japan, Argentina, albeit with the caveat it produces two national champions each season, and Portugal.
In fact, of the 20 countries represented in the US, only eight feature their respective domestic champions.
The scenario is even more complicated as far as Auckland City is concerned.
New Zealand's best two teams, Auckland FC and Wellington Phoenix, play in Australia's A-League, which is part of the Asian Football Confederation.
But with the AFC spots already taken, they both missed out.
Auckland City, meanwhile, is Oceania's sole representative after winning the OFC Champions League, despite being a semi-professional club.
In that respect, it deserved to be taking part in the tournament. Auckland City, after all, has won the OFC Champions League 13 times in the past two decades and were regular in the Club World Cup under the old format.
Bayern, after all, thrashed Dinamo Zagreb 9-2 in the Champions League earlier this season to a fraction of the fuss its demolishing of Auckland City generated.
A number of Auckland players had to take time off work to play in the tournament and any criticism of the format should not be seen a slight on them nor their commitment.
'To be proud of the players is what we're after. It's a dream coming from an amateur level to play in this environment,' Auckland coach Ivan Vicelich said after the match.
'You can't hide on the field. [I'm] really proud, a lot of players put in a good amount and worked really hard.'
CINCINNATI, OHIO - JUNE 15: Jonathan Tah #4 celebrates with Kingsley Coman #11 of FC Bayern Munchen ... More after Coman scored the team's first goal during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 group C match between FC Bayern München and Auckland City FC at TQL Stadium on June 15, 2025 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Stuart Franklin - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
But stark reality is that lopsided affair such as Saturday's do very little to legitimize FIFA's newest tournament.
Consider these numbers. Bayern had 31 shots – 17 of them on target – to Auckland's one, and had 72% of possession.
Auckland's goalkeeper Conor Tracey made seven saves and still conceded 10 goals.
In the FIFA World Cup's 95-year history, there has never been a scoreline so big. In fact, it took 52 years for a team to score 10 goals in a World Cup game – Hungary claimed the record when it beat El Salvador 10-1 in 1982.
It has taken two games at the Club World Cup and with Auckland set to face Benfica on Friday and Boca Juniors on Tuesday, another thrashing could be on the cards.
And yet, the underlying irony to it all is that even if Auckland was to lose both of their remaining games 10-0, its appearance in the tournament alone will make it even stronger domestically.
It stands to receive $3.5m in appearance fee, game-changing level of income for a club whose travel costs to the US was two times as big as its annual turnover.
Infantino and FIFA billed this tournament as the best against the best. Three days into the competition, it is abundantly clear that is not the case.
But, one suspects, Auckland may not care too much once financial considerations are factored in. And, ultimately, neither will FIFA.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
27 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Miami Hurricanes Potential Playoff Berth in 2025 Hinges on Just one Player
Miami Hurricanes Potential Playoff Berth in 2025 Hinges on Just one Player originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Miami Hurricanes defense, specifically their pass defense, failed not only coach Mario Cristobal, but they also failed the fans by missing a chance to win the ACC title and earn a berth in the expanded college football playoff in 2024. Advertisement But Cristobal addressed that issue in this offseason by raiding the transfer portal for talented players that can defend against the pass. According to Carter Bahns of the one player that is the x-factor for the Hurricanes to make the playoffs this season is, surprisingly, transfer cornerback Xavier Lucas. Lucas recorded just one INT to go with 18 tackles and two pass breakups at Wisconsin a season ago. Wisconsin Badgers cornerback Xavier Lucas (6) celebrates with cornerback Max Lofy (12) following an Hanisch-USA TODAY Sport With that said, the x-factor is not Lucas at all. That moniker should fall squarely on the shoulders (and the surgically repaired throwing elbow) of former Georgia quarterback Carson Beck. Advertisement Beck passed for over 3,400-yards a season ago. He also threw 12 interceptions, eight of which were thrown over three consecutive games. Beck transferred after suffering the season-ending elbow injury. Then, Miami swooped in with millions and lured Beck to Florida. After an offseason of injury rehab and way-too-many distractions, Beck must step up and show what he can do at the most important position on the field during fall camp and during the season. Anything less than a conference championship and a playoff berth in 2025 will be a bust for the Hurricanes. Related: For Mario Cristobal and the Miami Hurricanes, Trouble Could Be Ahead in 2025 This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 21, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
32 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Top Steelers NFL draft prospect LaNorris Sellers passes up huge NIL deal
The top priority of the Pittsburgh Steelers scouting staff this college football season is to sort out what is already shaping up to be an elite quarterback class for the 2026 NFL draft. Thanks to the ridiculous nature of NIL money, the NFL now has another aspect of players to track and that's their loyalty to their team as opposed to making fast money in college football. One of the top quarterback prospects in the upcoming draft is LaNorris Sellers out of South Carolina. News came out about Sellers this week and thanks to some intervention by his dad, Sellers chose to pass up $8 million over two years in NIL money to stay. According to Sellers' dad, there were multiple schools bidding for his services, but he showed maturity and loyalty by staying, which is a huge green flag for an NFL team. Advertisement From a football standpoint, Sellers is poised for a huge breakout season. His athleticism and mobility are already off the charts and as the season progressed, we saw his pocket presence and processing speed improve drastically down the stretch. Sellers and Clemson's Cade Klubnik are my top two options for the Steelers and this move by Sellers just helps his case. This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Steelers NFL draft prospect LaNorris Sellers passes up huge NIL deal
Yahoo
32 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Huge 2026 NFL mock draft update rebuilds Steelers offense
We are a month away from the start of NFL training camps and just after that, the college football season will kick off. So we thought now was the perfect time to update our five-round mock draft for the 2026 NFL draft. As things stand right now, we have five quarterbacks with a first-round grade and depending how the college season plays out, there should be a potential franchise quarterback on the board when the Steelers pick in the first round. This time around we utilized the mock draft simulator from Mock Draft Database that utilizes projected compensatory picks and very up to date prospect rankings. First round - QB Fernando Mendoza - Indiana The Steelers pick No. 15 overall in this mock and a run on quarterbacks leave them with Indiana's Fernando Mendoza. He's not a household name yet but by the time the draft gets here, he should be one of the first four quarterbacks off the board. Second round - CB Jalon Kilgore - South Carolina Kilgore has prototypical NFL size and athleticism and showed a ton of growth last season in his coverage technique. Third round - TE Max Klare - Purdue We are rooting for Darnell Washington but if tight end becomes a bigger part of the offense, a pick like Klare as a receiving weapon makes a lot of sense. Third round - WR Nic Anderson - LSU Anderson is healthy and getting a fresh start at LSU. He is good at everything and has no real glaring weaknesses to his game. Third round - RB Jonah Coleman - Washington If Jaylen Warren leaves after the season, the Steelers will need to add a back to go with Kaleb Johnson. Coleman is a powerful, squatty back with impressive balance truly elite vision with sneaky athleticism. Fourth round - OT Drew Shelton - Penn State Massive powerfuly run blocker who just overwhelms defenders with his size and power. Fourth round - S Keon Sabb - Alabama Exceptional developmental safety who might end up going much sooner than this if he can develop more in coverage Fifth round - IOL - Febechi Nwaiwu - Oklahoma Nwaiwu transfered to Oklahoma last season and after he got up to speed, really looked good as the team's starting right tackle. We expect him to make another big jump in 2025 and he could be Isaac Seumalos' replacement. Fifth round - WR Germie Bernard - Alabama Alabama is Bernard's third FBS team in four seasons. He's not spectacular in any area but he's found a way to develop as a really reliable possession receiver if he can just have some stability in coaching and scheme. This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: 2026 NFL mock draft lands Steelers Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza
