Auckland City FC, an amateur team from New Zealand, is making headlines at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 in the USA. Despite a heavy 10-0 loss to Bayern Munich, the team’s underdog story has captured global attention as some of their players have taken unpaid leaves from their jobs to play the tournament.

FIFA’s revamped expanded Club World Cup kicks off on Saturday and most fans’ eyes will be firmly fixed on the plethora of soccer superstars competing for up to $125 million, but look closer and you’ll see a team of amateurs on the pitch too.

Auckland City FC’s 10-0 thumping at the hands of Bayern Munich was a new record defeat at a Fifa club tournament and also exceeded the previous-highest margin at a Fifa World Cup. The amateur team were always going to be rank outsiders,