Amateur Dreamers Go Head-to-Head with Bayern Munich at Club World Cup
Amateur squad advances to World Cup without a recognized pro footballer on roster.
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David Against Goliath: FC Bayern, one of the heavyweights of world football, faces off against an amateur club, Auckland City FC of New Zealand, in the Club World Cup. The Bayern players will be earning their paycheques, while many of Auckland City's players will be taking unpaid vacation to participate. This journey of a lifetime for them is a stark contrast to their regular workdays.
Angus Kilkolly is a sales manager for an electrical tools company. His day job begins at 7:30 am and often ends at 9 pm. But he also plays football for Auckland City FC. He trains three to four times a week, doesn't earn a penny for his hobby - just a nominal weekly allowance of around €90. In a surprising turn of events, he and his amateur team from tiny New Zealand find themselves competing against the globe's top teams such as Harry Kane, Lionel Messi, and Kylian Mbappé in the USA for the Club World Cup.
Kilkolly and his teammates are willing to take on almost any challenges for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to share the pitch with these stars. "It's a fantastic opportunity. Just standing on the same field as these teams is completely crazy," he said. It offers them the chance to compete on a global stage and feel like professional footballers - if only for a bit, winked Kilkolly.
A Multi-Million Dollar Duo vs Amateur Underdogs
The clash between Auckland City and Bayern on Sunday (3 pm at Sat.1 and DAZN, and live ticker at ntv.de) in Cincinnati is a battle of striking contrasts. Bayern's players represent a €903 million squad value, with Jamal Musiala being the most expensive at €140 million. Kane earns €24 million a year, while Auckland City's amateurs, currently in third place in the Northern League, four points behind leaders Birkenhead United AFC, are valued at just €4.58 million, with no player being worth more than €275,000 as per transfermarkt.de.
While Bayern plays in front of 75,000 spectators at the Allianz Arena, Auckland City attracts only 200 to 2,000 fans to their calm sports field at Kiwitea Street in Auckland. And after their home matches? "We have a cozy little club room where everyone enjoys a drink after the game," Kilkolly said. Essentially, they're a family-oriented club where everyone is welcome, and everyone knows each other. Sounds more like a local league, far from the grandeur of a global Club World Cup.
Source: ntv.de, tno/sid
- Club World Cup 2025
- FC Bayern Munich
- Auckland City FC
- Fifa
- Fußball
Additional Facts:
- Auckland City FC's dominance extends beyond New Zealand and Oceania, with their 13 Champion League titles setting a record[2][4][1].
- Their qualification for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup marks their 12th appearance and their second time in the expanded 32-team format. In the previous format, they even managed to secure third place in 2014[4][5].
- The club's values transcend football, with their Mount Roskill Schools Project providing top-tier facilities and opportunities for young aspirants[5].
- Despite the gap in resources and experience, Auckland City's players and staff are relishing this opportunity as a once-in-a-lifetime chance to prove themselves against world-class opposition[4].
- The club's roots run deep in their community in Mount Roskill, Auckland, as indicated by their warm farewell before heading to the tournament.
The unpaid amateur players of Auckland City FC, who have set a record with 13 Champion League titles, are contrasted with the well-paid professional players of FC Bayern Munich in the Club World Cup 2025. Despite the sharp difference in employment policies, community policy, and squad value, Auckland City's players find excitement in the opportunity to compete on the same field as global sports champions, emulating the European leagues and the Champions League.
