Thomas Müller wants to win the Club World Cup with Bayern. © ANSA / RONALD WITTEK

Club World Cup: Bayern starts against amateur footballers

3-0? 5-0? 7-0? The only question before FC Bayern's entry into the Club World Cup in the USA, which is surrounded by many question marks, can only be this: How far will the Munich stars beat the amateur footballers of Auckland City?

June 13, 2025

From: dpa/det

New Zealand has won the rugby world championships three times, but in football, the five-million-strong nation is a relatively small one. Even in Bayern Munich's entourage, no one dares to artificially exaggerate Oceania's record Champions League winners. Not even sporting director Max Eberl.

"Auckland is probably the weakest opponent. But we still have to play against them and win," said the 51-year-old, referring to Group C. Boca Juniors from Argentina and the well-known Champions League side Benfica Lisbon will be of a different caliber.

Late arrival of Kane, Laimer and Sané

For Bayern, the unusual kickoff time of noon on Sunday at Cincinnati's TQL Stadium (12.00:18.00 PM CEST) is a task similar to a first-round DFB Cup match against a top-flight team. The fall is enormous. But only if Bayern play sloppily.

Manuel Neuer arriving in the USA. © APA / JULIO AGUILAR

Tournament veterans Manuel Neuer (39) and Thomas Müller (35) do not see this danger, despite a short adjustment period to the challenging climate, jet lag, and the team's fragmented journey. Goalkeeper Harry Kane, Konrad Laimer, and Leroy Sané, who quickly completed his transfer to Galatasaray Istanbul, were the last players to arrive at the team's headquarters in Orlando on Friday evening (local time).

“We would be happy if we only lost 0-3”

After missing out on the Champions League title at home, coach Vincent Kompany is determined to be in the global club competition in America until the final on July 13th, just outside New York. This will fulfill a big dream of the Bayern bosses. The premiere of the XXL tournament with 32 teams is expected to bring in a lot of cash. As world champions, the Bundesliga giants would earn over 100 million euros.

Auckland City is intended to be the ideal warm-up for the maximum of six games that follow. "We have many champions in all sports – just not in football," Wynton Rufer told Kicker. The former Werder Bremen player runs a football school in Auckland, so he knows his stuff. The 62-year-old honestly admitted: "I'd be happy if we only lost 0-3."