Dylan Manickum of Auckland City FC controls the ball during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025. Photo: ALEX GRIMM
Auckland City's final game at the new look FIFA Club World Cup has a lot on the line.
The part-timers can end the South American big guns Boca Juniors' run at the tournament, if they can do what they have been unable to in their first two Group C games and not concede more than five goals.
Boca Juniors have one of the biggest, and loudest, travelling fan bases at the tournament and will provide an atmosphere that Auckland City will not have experienced before when they clash in Tennessee.
- Wednesday 25 June, Auckland City versus Boca Juniors in Nashville at 7am (NZT)
Form
Auckland City are yet to score a goal at the expanded Club World Cup with a 10-0 loss to Bayern Munich in their opening game and a 6-0 loss to Benfica in game two.
While Auckland will be eager to get the ball in the back of the net at least once before they leave the tournament, they will also need to try and keep the opposition from blowing out the scoreline.
Boca Juniors drew their opening game with Benfica 2-2 and lost to Bayern Munich 2-1 in their second group game, results which have put the club in danger of elimination before the next stage of the tournament.
Boca Juniors' Uruguayan forward #16 Miguel Merentiel celebrates after scoring his team's first goal against Bayern Munich at FIFA Club World Cup Photo: PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA
The loss to the German club was the first time a European club had won against a South American side in the Club World Cup.
For the club from Argentina to reach the round of 16 they need a combination of things to go their way.
Bayern Munich must defeat Benfica. Boca must beat Auckland City by at least six goals if Benfica loses 0-1.
If Boca wins 5-0 and Benfica loses 0-2 both teams would be tied on points and goal difference, with the team moving on to be decided by the fewest number of cards received throughout the tournament - which would not work in Boca's favour.
Wednesday's game will be the second time Auckland City have played a South American opposition at a Club World Cup, the last time was a decade ago against San Lorenzo.
Where they are playing
The 30,000-seat GEODIS Park in Nashville is the largest soccer-specific stadium in the USA and Canada, with standing room which can hold up to 35,000 fans.
The stadium opened in 2022 at the historic Nashville Fairgrounds and is home to Major League Soccer side Nashville SC.
The Auckland City versus Boca Juniors game is the penultimate Club World Cup game at the venue.
Boca Juniors' midfielder #22 Kevin Zenon Photo: ALEJANDRO PAGNI
Squads
Auckland City: Conor Tracey, Areya Prasad, Nathan Garrow, Adam Mitchell, Christian Gray, Nikko Boxall, Regont Murati, Nathan Lobo, Jordan Vale, Dylan Connolly, Adam Bell, Zhou Tong, Alfie Rogers, Michael den Heijer, Ryan Ellis, Mario Ilich (captain), Gerard Garriga, Jeremy Foo, Matt Ellis, David Yoo, Kentaro Ozaki, Jackson Manuel, Paris Domfeh, Kailan Gould, Myer Bevan, Angus Kilkolly, Dylan Manickum, Ryan De Vries, Joseph Lee, Jerson Lagos, Haris Zeb
Boca Juniors:Sergio Romero, Leandro Brey, Javier Garcia, Augustin Marchesin, Marcelo Saracchi, Marcos Rojo, Nicolas Figal, Marco Pellegrino, Rodrigo Battaglia, Luis Advincula, Frank Fabra, Lautaro Blanco, Juan Barinaga, Aryton Costa, Mateo Mendia, Lautaro di Lollo, Lucas Blondel, Walter Molas, Carlos Palacios, Ignacio Miramon, Malcom Braida, Williams Alarcon, Agustin Martegani, Alan Velasco, Andre Herrera, Kevin Zenon, Tomas Belmonte, Camilo Rey Domenech, Milton Delgado, Santiago Dalmasso, Joaquin Ruiz, Exequiel Zeballos, Milton Gimenez, Edinson Cavani, Lucas Janson, Miguel Merentiel, Brian Aguirre.
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