Players from Auckland City FC celebrate after their FIFA Club World Cup 2025 game against CA Boca Juniors. Photo: ALEX GRIMM / AFP
Analysis - Auckland City FC just had their very own Cool Runnings moment. Much like the ragtag Jamaican bobsled team in the 1993 Disney classic, this group of amateurs eventually held their own among the elite of their sport - despite a chastening start.
In the movie, very loosely based on a true story, a group of unlikely Olympians led by the belligerent John Candy crash out while proving they deserve their place at the 1988 Calgary Winter Games.
Auckland City did just that this week, holding Argentine powerhouse Boca Juniors to a stunning 1-1 draw in Nashville at the FIFA Club World Cup. In another case of life imitating art, they did so after falling flat on their face in the opener, humbled 10-0 by German giants Bayern Munich. Bayern winger Michael Olise summed up the mismatch when he offered little sympathy for his non-professional opponents post-match.
Bayern Munich's Kingsley Coman gets the better of Auckland City FC's Michael Den Heijer and Adam Mitchell. Photo: Shane Wenzlick / Phototek.nz
Of all the European clubs to face first, Bayern are arguably the most ruthlessly unsentimental. Benfica followed up with a 6-0 drubbing of their own. It was the first time Auckland City had faced European opponents thanks to this year's revamp, which has removed the preamble of a play-off round before the big hitters arrive, and a 16-0 aggregate scoreline demonstrated the gulf in quality.
Again, like in the greatest sports comedy of all time (sorry, Caddyshack), the world initially laughed. Auckland City - from New Zealand's semi-pro National League, not to be confused with professional A-League side Auckland FC - became an easy punchline and a stick with which to beat FIFA president Gianni Infantino and his vision for a truly global club competition.
So it was fitting that Infantino was there in person to witness one-man pun machine Christian Gray shackle $64 million striker Edinson Cavani and score the equaliser. An aspiring teacher, Gray became the perfect symbol of the amateur spirit, tickled 50 shades of pink, his joy a stark contrast to the polished professionals around him.
Auckland City FC's Christian Gray scores and celebrates his goal against Boca Juniors at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. Photo: www.photosport.nz
It's easy to forget that Auckland are, in fact, the most regular participant in Club World Cup history. Their dominance in the OFC Champions League has seen them represent the region time and again. They even finished third in 2014. The difference this time was the calibre of opposition put in front of them from the offset.
So, was it worth it? The draw with Boca certainly wiped the slate clean. Another hammering might have made it hard to claim any positives, but it's difficult to argue against the visibility this tournament gave them. Financially, the reported US$4.5 million (NZ$7.4m) prize pool is huge. But questions remain.
A New Zealand Football distribution model may see some of that money diverted away from the club. Meanwhile, the trip to America came at a domestic cost - Auckland were eliminated from the Chatham Cup by lower-league Waiheke United and now face a battle just to finish top four in the Northern League. That's a must if they want future invites to FIFA's flagship events.
Still, those are small sacrifices for what's been a once-in-a-lifetime ride. It's back to reality soon enough. In two weeks, they'll make a three-hour road trip to face Tauranga City, playing beside a construction site in front of one hardy stand shielding fans from the elements.
A far cry from where they have just been. But they'll always have Nashville.
