Inside Auckland City FC's soccer team: A complete roster and more to know about amateurs in Club World Cup

Auckland City FC made history at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, albeit not in a manner they would have liked.

The amateur team from New Zealand were obliterated 10-0 by Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich in the biggest defeat ever suffered by a team in the competition.

The result left many wondering how such a one-sided scoreline could be possible at an event FIFA describes as a meeting of the best domestic sides from across the globe, at the end of which a club world champion will be crowned.

Yet that does not tell the full story of Auckland City. In reality, it's quite remarkable that they are able to compete against the likes of Bayern at all.

The Sporting News takes a look at everything you need to know about the team who, among all the 32 club sides at the tournament, perhaps best represent what soccer is really about.

MORE: Updated results and standings from Club World Cup | Biggest CWC wins of all time

Auckland City FC soccer roster

Auckland have a squad of 30 for their men's team, although their Club World Cup roster comprises 27 players.

*Ages correct as of June 20, 2026

MORE: Full rosters for all 32 teams at the Club World Cup

Why is Auckland City FC in the Club World Cup?

Auckland City qualified by virtue of winning the most recent OFC Champions League, the top men's club competition in Oceania. They are record 13-time winners of the tournament and have won the past four in a row.

In the 2025 final, they beat Hekari United of Papua New Guinea 2-0 at the National Stadium of Honiara, the capital of the Solomon Islands. The 10,000-seat venue was only built in 2023.

Auckland City are not to be confused with Auckland FC, one of two professional clubs in New Zealand. Those two teams compete in Australia's A-League, which means they are not eligible to play in the OFC Champions League.

Australia's league and national teams are part of the Asian Football Confederation, so club sides play in the AFC Champions League.

Is Auckland City FC a professional team?

Auckland City are an amateur club. This means their players have full-time occupations or studies that they must balance with training and matches.

Statistically, the overwhelming majority of people who regularly play soccer across the globe are amateurs. FIFA data, as cited by ESPN, puts the number of professional players at 128,876 — less than one per cent of the estimated 250 million who play the game in some capacity worldwide.

Assistant coach Adria Casals told The Guardian before the tournament: "If we can stay true to who we are, if we can be brave, then we can make a lot of people proud of us and everything we represent as an amateur club from a small nation in the middle of nowhere."

There are two professional clubs in New Zealand: capital team Wellington Phoenix, and newly established Auckland FC, owned and operated by Bill Foley, the American businessman in charge of the investment groups that own Premier League club Bournemouth and NHL franchise the Vegas Golden Knights.

Where does Auckland City FC play?

Auckland City are from Auckland, the most populous city in New Zealand, which is situated on the country's North Island. The team is based in Sandringham, a suburb in the south-west of the city.

Auckland City compete domestically in the 12-team Northern League of New Zealand's Men's National League system. Their home ground of Kiwitea Street typically sees fewer than 500 spectators turn up to watch matches.

Who coaches Auckland City FC?

Auckland City's head coach is Paul Posa. The 63-year-old New Zealander missed the 10-0 loss to Bayern after undergoing what the club described as "a minor surgical procedure".

He is assisted by former New Zealand international Ivan Vicelich, Adra Casals, goalkeeper coach Jonas Hoffman, and physio Matt Payne.

Vicelich played at the 2010 FIFA World Cup and is a seven-time winner of the OFC Champions League with Auckland City. He was part of the team that earned a bronze medal at the 2014 Club World Cup, when Auckland famously beat Mexican giants Cruz Azul on penalties after narrowly losing to Argentina's San Lorenzo in the semifinals.