By Martin Graham
Bayern Munich delivered one of the most dominant performances in Club World Cup history, dismantling Auckland City 10-0 at the TQL Stadium in Cincinnati. The German champions wasted no time asserting their dominance, with Kingsley Coman scoring just five minutes in, effectively ending any hopes of a surprise result.
By half-time, Bayern had already matched the previous Club World Cup record of six goals in a match, set by Al-Hilal against Al Jazira. Sacha Boey, Michael Olise, Coman, Thomas Muller, and Olise again found the net before the break. In the second half, Jamal Musiala – who came on for Harry Kane – scored a quick hat-trick, and Muller completed the scoring with his 250th goal for the club.
The final score of 10-0 set a new record for the competition and marked Bayern’s first double-digit win since a 12-0 thrashing of Bremer SV in the 2021 German Cup. At one point, it seemed their all-time biggest victory – 16-1 over DJK Waldberg in 1997 – might even be at risk.
The disparity between the two teams was as obvious in their finances and squad structure as it was on the pitch. Bayern fired 31 shots, with 17 on target, and kept 71% possession. In contrast, Auckland managed only one attempt on goal, a tame effort from Angus Kilkolly.
Financially, the contrast is equally stark. Auckland City posted revenue of 1.1 million New Zealand dollars (around £488,000) last year, while Bayern recorded earnings of €951.5 million (£810 million). Player wages further highlight the divide – while Bayern striker Harry Kane earns £400,000 a week, Auckland’s salary cap stands at 150 New Zealand dollars (approximately £66) per week. To match Kane’s weekly earnings, an Auckland player would need 117 years.
Transfermarkt values Auckland’s squad at €4.58 million (£3.9 million), while Bayern’s players are collectively worth €903.5 million (£769 million). Despite the mismatch, Auckland are set to collect £2.6 million in prize money, whereas European clubs can earn between £9.9 million and £29.6 million depending on their performance in the tournament.
In the Opta Power Rankings, Bayern are ranked sixth globally, while Auckland sit in 5,074th place – below clubs like York City from England’s National League. Among this year’s Club World Cup entrants, only UAE’s Al Ain comes close to Auckland in terms of ranking, positioned at 625th.
The inclusion of Auckland City in a group with a team like Bayern has intensified the scrutiny of FIFA’s new Club World Cup structure, which expanded from seven to 32 teams this summer. While Auckland qualified by dominating the OFC Champions League between 2021 and 2024, many question whether this justifies their placement alongside the elite.
This was Auckland’s 12th appearance in the competition, the most of any team. However, recent showings haven’t helped their case – last year they fell 6-2 to Al Ain in the Intercontinental Cup and were eliminated 3-0 by Al-Ittihad in the 2023 Club World Cup.
Despite the heavy loss, Auckland’s interim coach Ivan Vicelich remained positive, calling the experience a “dream” for his amateur squad. Players include a mix of professions: a barber, a car salesperson, students, and a schoolteacher – left-back Nathan Lobo is even set to take a university exam from his hotel room during the tournament.
Reactions were mixed. Some viewers criticized FIFA’s decision to pit professional giants against amateurs, calling the match unwatchable and comparing it to a pre-season warm-up. When asked if he sympathized with the New Zealanders, Michael Olise simply replied: “No.”
Looking ahead, Bayern’s next test comes against Boca Juniors in Miami, a clash that manager Vincent Kompany described as a meeting of “traditional” clubs. He acknowledged the lopsided result but emphasized the importance of treating every match seriously, noting that challenges will only grow as the tournament progresses.
