City's Quest for Oceania Glory Begins

The defending champions, chasing an unprecedented 13th continental crown, face a familiar foe in their opening Group A clash—AS Pirae of Tahiti. The match, set to take place on Sunday, March 30, at the iconic Lawson Tama Stadium, promises to be a spectacle, rekindling memories of last year's final where Auckland City triumphed 4-0.

Captain Adam Mitchell, speaking ahead of the tournament, acknowledged the unique challenges of competing in the Pacific Islands. "It's always difficult here in the islands, acclimatising to the heat and conditions," he remarked. "But we've prepared as best as we can, watching videos and drawing on our experience from last year's final. AS Pirae have a lot of similar players and a familiar style, so we're extremely excited to get the game started."

Mitchell also highlighted the significance of starting the tournament against a formidable opponent. "The first game's always tough, but we've had an extra day to acclimatise compared to last year. Our preparation in New Zealand, with three league games under our belt, has left us fit, confident, and ready to give it our all."

Head coach Paul Posa, a veteran of the competition, exuded calm confidence while addressing the inevitable pressure of defending the title. "There's always a bit of pressure, but it's a nice pressure," he said. "We've won it before, and there's no feeling of underachievement. Experience has been our secret—learning from every tournament has made us a better team and club."

Posa was quick to acknowledge the rising standards in Oceania football, noting that Auckland City is one of several teams capable of lifting the trophy. "The Solomons have the home advantage, and teams like Pirae and Tiga Sport are fantastic. We can't take anything for granted, but if we play to our best, we've got a good chance."

The 2025 OFC Champions League features eight teams divided into two groups. Auckland City leads Group A, which includes AS Pirae, Fiji's Rewa FC, and New Caledonia's AS Tiga Sport. Group B comprises Solomon Islands' Central Coast FC, Vanuatu's Ifira Blackbird FC, Papua New Guinea's Hekari United, and Cook Islands' debutants Tupapa Maraerenga.

The top two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals, culminating in the final on April 12. For Auckland City, the journey begins with AS Pirae, followed by clashes against Rewa and Tiga Sport. The road to glory is fraught with challenges, but the Navy Blues' pedigree and preparation make them a formidable contender.

Lawson Tama Stadium, nestled in the hills of Honiara, provides a unique and atmospheric setting for the tournament. With a capacity of up to 20,000, the stadium has witnessed countless historic moments in Pacific football and is set to host another chapter in the region's rich sporting narrative.

As Auckland City FC takes to the field on Sunday, the weight of history and expectation will be on their shoulders. But with a blend of experience, preparation, and determination, the Navy Blues are poised to make another memorable run in Oceania's premier club competition.

Every match is available to watch LIVE and FREE on FIFA+

Download the FIFA+ app on the App Store or Google Play

All kick-off times shown as local Solomon Islands time.

MATCH DETAILS
OFC Champions League 2025 - Group A 
Sunday, 30 March 2025
Auckland City FC vs AS Pirae
Lawson Tama Stadium, Honiara
Kick-off: 3:00pm (Local time) 5pm (NZT) 
WATCH LIVE

AC 2025 OCL  SQUAD: 1. Conor TRACEY (GK)  3. Adam MITCHELL (C)  4. Christian GRAY, 5.  Nikko BOXALL  7. Myer BEVAN 8. Gerard GARRIGA 10. Dylan MANICKUM 11. Ryan DE VRIES  13. Nathan LOBO 14. Jordan VALE, 15. Jackson MANUEL, 16. Joe LEE 17. Jerson LAGOS 18. Areya PRASAD (GK) 19. Dylan CONNOLY, 20. Matt ELLIS, 21. Adam BELL 22. Tong ZHOU 24. Nathan GARROW (GK) 25. Michael DEN HEIJER  26. David YOO, 27. Haris ZEB, 28. Otto INGHAM 

Head Coach: Paul Posa
Assistant Coach: Ivan Vicelich
Assistant Coach: Adria Casals
GK Coach: Jonas Hoffmann
Physiotherapist: Matt Payne
Team Manager: Keith Coton