There are many issues regarding the Club World Cup, but Auckland City should not be one of them. While it would have been better if Bayern Munich had not scored 10 goals against Auckland City in Cincinnati, this match does not tarnish the history of either club. Auckland City has shown tremendous capability in the OFC Champions League and is likely to return
For some, this raises doubts. “I don’t mean to disrespect anyone, but Bayern’s opponent is semi-pro,” commented Boca Juniors manager Miguel Angel Russo, who may face a challenging match against Auckland City in their upcoming group stage.
The debate is whether Auckland City deserves their place. Clearly they do, considering that the aim of the tournament is to crown the best club in the world. In fact, they arguably have more claim than Bayern Munich, who have won no Champions League titles in the last four years.
Building a tournament should involve the best teams from each continent, maintaining fairness. Currently, Oceania’s single representative creates an imbalance; had another team come through the ranks recently, they would still face the same challenges. Auckland City are not to blame for the scenario of local professional teams opting for other leagues, leaving them to compete alone with a modest budget compared to typical European clubs.
They did not enter the tournament seeking sympathy. When asked if he felt sorry for Auckland’s team, Bayern’s Michael Olise simply answered: “No,” and rightly so.
Despite the monumental loss, questioning Auckland’s right to compete in the Club World Cup ignores the fundamental essence of international rivalry. This tournament should not penalize a regional champion due to a single game.
How to watch Auckland City
- Fixtures: Friday, June 20, Benfica vs. Auckland City, 12 p.m., Inter&Co Stadium, Orlando; Tuesday, June 24, Auckland City vs. Boca Juniors, 3 p.m., GEODIS Park, Nashville
- Live stream: Watch on DAZN (for free)
- Group C winner odds: Bayern Munich -400, Benfica +500, Boca Juniors +700, Auckland City +50000
