Ahead of Bayern Munich`s campaign in the FIFA Club World Cup 2025, here is a look at their group stage opponents: Auckland City, Boca Juniors, and Benfica.
What is the FIFA Club World Cup?
The FIFA Club World Cup is an international association football competition organized by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA). It features the winners of the six continental confederations, as well as the host nation`s national champion.
Auckland City (New Zealand)
When: 15 June
Where: TQL Stadium, Cincinnati
How they qualified: Auckland secured their spot via the rankings pathway, being the most successful side in the OFC Champions League over the past four years. This highlights their dominance in Oceania; they have won the competition four times in a row.
Their credentials: The Navy Blues are a major force in New Zealand football, having won the national championship 10 times since their founding in 2004, alongside 11 of the last 13 OFC Champions Leagues. Their consistent success means they frequently participate in the Club World Cup, achieving a third-place finish in 2014 after defeating Mexico’s Cruz Azul on penalties.
Star men: Ryan De Vries is nearing Auckland City’s all-time appearance record and is second only to Emiliano Tade in goals scored for the club. However, Angus Kilkolly, with 65 goals in 122 games, could be their most dangerous player.
Record vs Bayern/ German clubs: This match will be the first meeting between Auckland City and Bayern Munich, and also Auckland`s first against any German opponent.
Recent results: Auckland has already arrived in the USA and played their first friendly on June 8th, winning 2-0 against Philadelphia Union 2, with De Vries scoring the opening goal.
Anything else? Auckland plays their home games at Kiwitea Street. Their club crest features the Sky Tower, an iconic landmark in Auckland city.
Boca Juniors (Argentina)
When: 21 June
Where: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami
How they qualified: Boca qualified through the rankings pathway despite not winning the Copa Libertadores in the last four years. They reached the final in 2023, losing to Brazilian side Fluminense. Their place was secured when Uruguay`s Nacional was eliminated early in last year`s tournament.
Their credentials: Boca Juniors is one of South America’s most successful teams. With six Libertadores titles, they are the second-most decorated club in the competition’s history and hold more trophies than any other Argentinian club. Boca is iconic for its blue and gold kit, the legendary Bombonera Stadium, and players like Diego Maradona among their legends. They have also won the Intercontinental Cup (the Club World Cup`s predecessor) three times and aim to make a strong impression in the USA.
Star men: European fans may recognize former Manchester United players Sergio Romero and Ander Herrera. Miguel Merentiel and Frank Fabra are key players in terms of appearances and goals. The biggest name is captain Edinson Cavani, the Uruguayan star, who has scored 25 goals in 67 games since joining in 2023 and will be looking to perform on the big stage.
Record vs Bayern/ German clubs: This will be Boca’s fourth match against a German club and their second encounter with Bayern. They were undefeated in the two legs of the 1977 Intercontinental Cup final against Borussia Mönchengladbach, winning 5-2 on aggregate, but were narrowly beaten 1-0 after extra-time by Bayern in the 2001 final.
Anything else? Miguel Ángel Russo was appointed as Boca`s new manager on June 2nd, less than two weeks before the start of their tournament campaign. Boca Juniors also has sports teams in basketball, handball, and chess.
Benfica (Portugal)
When: 24 June
Where: Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte
How they qualified: Benfica also qualified through the rankings pathway based on their performance in recent European competitions. They reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League in two of the last four seasons, and a UEFA Europa League appearance last season further boosted their ranking.
Their credentials: Benfica is Portugal’s most successful football club and has won the Champions League twice. Their most recent victory was in 1962, before the Intercontinental Cup was regularly contested. While the Eagles are accustomed to winning trophies, they were knocked out of the Champions League by Barcelona in the Round of 16 during the 2024/25 season.
Star men: Striker Vangelis Pavlidis has been in excellent form, scoring 29 goals across all competitions this campaign. Veteran Ángel Di Maria continues to perform at a high level and will play his final games for Benfica at the tournament before returning to his boyhood club Rosario Central. Nicolás Otamendi is also a key defender with over 200 appearances for the club. Former Mainz midfielder Leandro Barreiro and ex-Bayern player Renato Sanches are also part of the squad.
Record vs Bayern/ German clubs: As a major European club, Benfica has faced German clubs frequently – 55 times in total. They have won 15 of these matches, although they are yet to defeat Bayern, whom they have met 13 times. Their most recent encounter with the Bundesliga champions was this season in the Champions League group stage, where Jamal Musiala scored the only goal in a 1-0 Bayern win.
Recent results: Benfica played a behind-closed-doors friendly match against Lusitano Évora on June 7th, which ended in a 3-3 draw.
Anything else? A famous legend surrounding Benfica is the `curse` supposedly placed on the club by former coach Bela Gutmann, who is said to have declared that the club wouldn’t win a European title for 100 years after his departure in 1962. Since then, they have lost eight finals in European competitions (Champions League/European Cup and UEFA Cup/Europa League). It remains to be seen if this run of bad luck will affect them in a world tournament.
