Bayern vs Auckland City: A Clash Of Worlds – And Why It Didn’t Make Sense

Yesterday marked day one of the Club World Cup group stages, and it was not shy of action. The headline fixture of the night was certainly Bayern Munich’s humiliating thumping of Auckland City in Group C, as they put a crushing ten goals past the side from New Zealand.

As much as goals are what the fans want to see, the game in Cincinnati definitely begs the question as to whether the competition has used a suitable format. The German champions played Auckland off the park for the entire 90 minutes, without allowing them any sight of consolation.

Bayern Munich shatter the record for the biggest win in FIFA Club World Cup history, thrashing Auckland City 10-0! 🤯 pic.twitter.com/BlziOPBmqR

— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) June 15, 2025

Although, this was not to anyone’s surprise. Ten goals may be extreme, but when you delve into the background of both sides, you realise how juxtaposed they truly are. Auckland City had no reason to be competing against one of the best teams in the world.

What Exactly Happened?

Auckland City were not even able to get off the blocks on the sunny afternoon in Ohio, as Kingsley Coman’s glancing header found Bayern 1-0 up inside six minutes. One soon became two, three and four as Vincent Kompany’s men ran riot midway through the first half. Sacha Boey and Michael Olise were the ones to add their names to the scoresheet, with Coman picking up his second in the meantime.

Bayern Munich’s 71% possession saw them swallow Auckland up in their system, as their passing play was soon rewarded with two more goals, one each from Thomas Müller and Olise on the stroke of halftime.

Michael Olise.

What a hit ☄️

(via @DAZNFootball)pic.twitter.com/Ocr7TPUXPb

— B/R Football (@brfootball) June 15, 2025

Kompany introduced four players off the bench shortly after play resumed, Jamal Musiala being one of them, who promptly made his mark. The German international scored within six minutes of his oncoming, with a delicate curling shot from outside the box into the far-right side of the net.

In the following 20 minutes, Musiala secured his hat-trick after tucking home a penalty for number two, and punishing an Auckland defensive error for the third. The game was then capped off in double digits when Thomas Müller made it a brace in the 89th minute on his retirement parade.

(Bayern Munich vs Auckland City Match Stats: FotMob)

A Mismatch In Squads

The difference in the squad market value between Bayern Munich and Auckland City epitomises every reason as to why Bayern were able to make such a mockery of the New Zealand Northern League side.

Bayern’s total squad value is reported to be greater than a whopping €900 million. These are absolutely absurd numbers that mismatched competitors Auckland could never even imagine for their team. The New Zealanders hold down the complete other end of the spectrum with a sum short of €5 million – more than 180 times less valuable than the German Giants.

(Squad Market Values: Transfermarkt)

The scoreline and squad value are not the only ill-matched factors either. It has been reported that Auckland’s amateur players have a remarkable salary cap parachuting them, as they are reported to be earning a stunted 150 New Zealand dollars per week – equivalent to £66. Meanwhile, Bayern Munich are paying some of the highest salaries in world football within their club, as their total wage bill exceeds €4 million each week.

Auckland City’s part-time squad also execute a variety of regular, relatable occupations on top of their football. Their team consists of many students, a car retailer, a school teacher, a barber, an insurance broker and much more. A truly extraordinary concept for a team competing in the Club World Cup, against sides who have won multiple Champions Leagues and domestic titles.

Auckland City goalkeeper Conor Tracey works in a warehouse for a pharmaceutical company in New Zealand. Before the match he said:

🗣️ "I’ve had to do a combination of annual leave and leave without pay. To play against Bayern, Benfica and Boca, 100% it's worth it."

Despite the… pic.twitter.com/hJHHaRBJIW

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) June 15, 2025

How Did They Get To The Club World Cup?

Auckland City are the only team from Oceania to compete in the expanded 32-team Club World Cup. They managed to qualify through their continual triumph in the Oceania Champions League, as the New Zealand club have won the competition on each of the last four occasions.

However, upon their qualification, Auckland were assorted into Group C – a group containing three world-beaters in Bayern Munich, Boca Juniors and Benfica. Ultimately, this arrangement has sparked a lot of interrogation, especially after yesterday’s tribulation.

In previous years, the 7-team competition organised a system where smaller teams had to work their way up to the final through multiple rounds, before playing the UEFA Champions League gargantuan. This saw Auckland playing first round football each year they competed, offering a much tighter game against other continental winners. Now, the underdogs have been thrown straight into the deep end of the new group stage format.

🚨| New FIFA Club World Cup format from 2025 — 32 teams total:

• AFC x 4
• CAF x 4
• CONCACAF x 4
• CONMEBOL x 6
• OFC x 1
• UEFA x 12
• Host country x 1 pic.twitter.com/nJoed3YiMe

— Madrid Zone (@theMadridZone) February 14, 2023

As we have seen already, this has not worked out for them. They have been placed against teams of a calibre that is far too strong for the New Zealanders, and as a result, has shown them up on the big stage. Whilst many feel sorry for Auckland City, they also question whether the new format was the right way of organising the revamped tournament.