If any participant had a chance to pick a rival in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup opening match, they would undoubtedly opt for Auckland City. The New Zealand side is arguably the weakest team in the tournament, which will definitely gather priceless experience from clashes with football giants but isn’t expected to cause much trouble to opponents.Following a rather long and exhausting season, a relatively easy challenge at the start of the competition is always pleasant, so Bayern Munich can be more than happy.Therefore, the six-time European Champions and two-time FIFA Club World Cup winners – though it wasn’t played in this format – will face a team many haven’t even heard of: the aforementioned New Zealand champions.Matchday is on the horizon. 🌇#FCBayern #MiaSanMia | 🔜#FCBACFC pic.twitter.com/CecJ1WJjjO— FC Bayern (@FCBayernEN) June 15, 2025 Auckland City have secured a spot in the FIFA Club World Cup by being the best in OFC rankings thanks to four consecutive triumphs in the Oceanian OFC Men’s Champions League, where they competed against seven rivals from New Caledonia, Tahiti, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, and Cook Islands.Experience is not Auckland’s strong point, as most of their players never left the Australian continent. Some, like Adam Mitchell, Nikko Boxall, Ryan De Vries, and Myer Bevan, have international experience from countries such as Serbia, England, Finland, the USA, and Canada. Furthermore, most of them have additional part-time jobs besides football!CWC: Double zero at the start! Messi and Co. survive as Egyptians waste penaltyTheir biggest strength is the aforementioned Bevan, the 28-year-old striker, the team’s top scorer. The majority of Auckland’s squad is from New Zealand, while seven foreign players come from Spain, China, Kosovo, Japan, Ireland, Fiji, and Colombia.On the other hand, Bayern are well-known to football fans worldwide and will be firm favourites against the popular Navy Blues. Bayern Munich’s squad is worth over 166 times more than Auckland City’s 🤯💰 pic.twitter.com/efaBvmOuwZ— OneFootball (@OneFootball) June 15, 2025 Considering the opponent’s strength and the fact that the crucial group stage clashes against Boca Juniors and Benfica await them, Vincent Kompany may opt to mix things up and give a chance to some of the club’s gems, as the Belgian included several youngsters in the Bavarians’ FIFA Club World Cup roster.Hence, players like David Santos Daiber, Leon Klanac, Adam Aznou, Cassiano Kiala, and Jonah Kusi-Asare could get some playing time today (19.00).FIFA CLUB WORLD CUP 2025Matchday 1SundayAl Ahly Cairo – Inter Miami 0-019:00: (1.01) Bayern (17.0) Auckland (60.0)22:00: (1.90) PSG (3.85) Atletico Madrid (4.10)Monday00:55: (2.65) Palmeiras (3.30) Porto (2.70)05:00: (1.95) Botafogo (3.45) Seattle (4.00)***odds are subject to change***
