Bayern Munich delivered a resounding statement at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025, demolishing Auckland City FC with a record-breaking 10-0 victory in their opening Group C match in Cincinnati. The match, played on Sunday, June 15, 2025, showcased the gulf in class between the European giants and the semi-professional New Zealand outfit.
From the outset, Bayern asserted their dominance. Kingsley Coman opened the floodgates in the 6th minute, setting the tone for a one-sided affair. Sacha Boey added another in the 18th minute, followed by quickfire goals from Michael Olise (20th minute) and Coman again (21st minute), extending Bayern's lead to 4-0 within the first quarter of the match. Auckland City, clearly overwhelmed by the Bavarian powerhouse, struggled to contain Bayern's relentless attacks.
Despite managing to maintain some semblance of structure, Auckland City succumbed to further pressure towards the end of the first half. Thomas Müller volleyed home in the 45th minute, and Olise scored a stunning curler in stoppage time, taking Bayern's lead to an insurmountable 6-0 by halftime.
Auckland City showed resilience at the beginning of the second half and managed to hold Bayern at bay for over 20 minutes. However, Bayern's relentless pressure eventually paid off. Jamal Musiala, who came on as a substitute for Harry Kane, stole the show with a superb hat-trick. Musiala scored first with a brilliant effort from outside the box in the 68th minute, then converted a penalty in the 73rd minute, and completed his hat-trick in the 84th minute after capitalizing on an errant pass. Müller then tapped in his second goal in the 90th minute to seal the emphatic 10-0 victory.
Despite the lopsided scoreline, Auckland City had a few moments of promise. Dylan Manickum displayed some energetic runs, creating a chance for David Yoo, who was unable to capitalize. Angus Kilkolly also forced Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer into a save in the 80th minute, registering Auckland's first shot on target.
The match set a new record for the largest victory in FIFA Club World Cup history, surpassing Al-Hilal's 6-1 win over Al Jazira in 2021. It also marked the first time a team has scored ten goals in a single Club World Cup match. Bayern's dominant performance has undoubtedly sent a strong message to their rivals in the competition.
Bayern Munich's coach, Vincent Kompany, utilized the match to integrate new signing Jonathan Tah into the defense. The Club World Cup provides a valuable opportunity for Tah to settle into the team and build cohesion with his teammates.
For Auckland City, the defeat was a harsh introduction to the FIFA Club World Cup. However, the experience of playing against one of the world's best teams will undoubtedly be valuable for their players. Auckland City will need to regroup quickly as they prepare for their next challenge against Benfica in Orlando.
The expanded FIFA Club World Cup 2025 features 32 teams competing in a format similar to the FIFA World Cup. The teams are divided into eight groups of four, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the round of 16. The tournament is being held across 11 cities in the United States, with the final scheduled for July 13 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
