Bavarian Giants Loom for City 

On Sunday local time the Navy Blues  boys from Sandringham will step into Cincinnati’s TQL Stadium to face the might of six-time European champions Bayern Munich,  in Group C of the newly expanded 2025 FIFA Club World Cup™️.

It’s a collision of footballing worlds that promises both intrigue and spectacle and Auckland City vice-captain Adam` Mitchell says his side has done its best to prepare for the enormous challenge ahead.

“It’s only a few days away now,” says vice-captain Adam Mitchell. “We’ve been working extremely hard here at our home base in Chattanooga… a big thank-you to Baylor School for providing amazing facilities for us to train on. It’s crucial when you’re preparing for a game of this magnitude.”

Bayern, as expected, arrive as one of the tournament favourites. With a squad bristling with talent, they are rightly considered  as overwhelming favourites over the Oceania Champions. But if the narrative feels familiar, Auckland’s mission is anything but ordinary.

“We’re preparing like we prepare for any other game,” says Mitchell, the centre-back whose calm presence will be vital on Sunday. “They’ve got some superstars, sure, but we do our analysis, we work hard on the grass, and we’re ready from minute one to minute 90.”

What Auckland lack in resources, they make up for in cohesion. The core of this team has been together for over half a decade, with multiple Club World Cup appearances already on their CVs. That experience, Mitchell believes, could make a crucial difference.

“We’ve got a lot of experience in this team… a lot of our group has been together for five or six plus years. So we’ve got that cohesion between us. It’s just about bringing that and the energy on Sunday.”

There’s a quiet confidence humming beneath Mitchell’s words, born not of arrogance but of preparation, resilience, and an unshakable belief in the value of the journey. “We’re extremely proud. Privileged and honoured to represent Auckland City, New Zealand, and Oceania as a whole.”

Should they pull off the unthinkable, it will be immortal. Should they fall short, the moment will still stand tall in the club’s proud history. Either way, come Sunday, Auckland City FC will walk out with their heads high, ready to test themselves against the best of the best.

How to Watch the FIFA Club World Cup on DAZN

DAZN is offering free access to all FIFA Club World Cup matches. Here’s how you can tune in:

1. Sign up for a free DAZN account – Simply register with your email address. No hidden costs or fees.
2. Download the DAZN App – Available on your TV, phone, tablet, or streaming device via your app store.
3. Watch on a laptop or PC – Visit www.DAZN.com
4. Log in – Select “Get Started” or “Log In” and enter your email address.
5. Enjoy the matches – You now have access to all of DAZN’s free content, including the FIFA Club World Cup.

Note: If you are already a DAZN subscriber or Freemium member, the competition is included in your current membership.

Be part of the FCWC action and get your tickets here https://goto.fifa.com/nxRf/v3zxkz7g 

Ends

MATCH DETAILS
FIFA CLUB WORLD CUP – Group C 
Bayern Munich vs Auckland City FC
TQL Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio
KO:  Sunday, 15 June 2025, 12:00PM (Local Time) – Monday, 16 June 2025, 4:00 AM (NZT)

AC SQUAD: 1. Conor TRACEY (GK) 2. Mario ILICH (C) 3. Adam MITCHELL 4. Christian GRAY 5. Nikko BOXALL, 6. Jackson MANUEL 7. Myer BEVAN 8. Gerard GARRIGA 9. Angus KILKOLLY 10. Dylan MANICKUM 11. Ryan DE VRIES 12. Regont MURATI 13. Nathan LOBO 14. Jordan VALE, 15. Jeremy FOO, 16. Joe LEE 17. Jerson LAGOS 18. Sebastian CIGANDA (GK) 19. Dylan CONNOLLY, 20. Matt ELLIS, 21. Adam KANUI BELL 22. Tong ZHOU 23. Alfie ROGERS, 24. Nathan GARROW (GK) 25. Michael DEN HEIJER, 26. David YOO, 27. Haris ZEB

HEAD COACH (Interim): Ivan VICELICH
ASSISTANT COACH: Adria CASALS
ASSISTANT COACH: Daewook KIM
GOALKEEPER COACH: Jonas HOFFMANN
TECHNICAL ANALYST: Malte THESENVITZ
PHYSIO: Matt PAYNE
PHYSIO: Zara ELLIS
PHYSIO: Natalia KOSINSKA
TEAM DOCTOR: Craig PANTHER
TEAM MANAGER: Keith COTON