Minnows Auckland City held heavyweights Boca Juniors to a draw in their final Group C game at the FIFA Club World Cup on Tuesday night, June 24.
With Bayern Munich and Benfica already qualifying from Group C, the clash between Boca Juniors and Auckland was, for all intents and purposes, inconsequential.
However, it turned out to be one of the most memorable nights for Auckland players, as they scored their first point of the Club World Cup. That, too, holding one of Argentina’s biggest teams to a stalemate.
Auckland City, the champions of Oceania, represented the continent at the Club World Cup. The Navy Blues are part-time footballers and play in front of only 3,500 people, at most. The majority of Auckland City players only play for the love of the game, treating it as a second job of sorts.
Auckland City, despite already being eliminated from the Club World Cup going into the match, earned a 1-1 draw vs. Boca Juniors.
First goal and first point of the tournament.
Incredible for the amateur team 👏🇳🇿 pic.twitter.com/FQ5ZGbmWOm
— B/R Football (@brfootball) June 24, 2025
Playing football, they earn about just $90 (£66) per week, making them the lowest-paid team of the Club World Cup. As per Opta, Auckland City are 4,948th in global club rankings. They faced Bayern Munich (6th), Benfica (24th), and Boca Juniors (131) in a highly competitive Group C.
Club World Cup: £73m Heavyweights Boca Juniors Draw with £3.8m Semi-Pro Outfit Auckland City
Auckland City began their tournament with an astounding 10-0 defeat to German champions Bayern Munich, suffering the heaviest loss in Club World Cup history. On Matchday 2, Benfica took them to the cleaners, winning 6-0. Auckland City fans, some of whom had flown for over one-and-a-half days, probably expected another loss against the mighty Boca Juniors on Matchday 3.
Auckland City, however, sprung a surprise, spectacularly holding Boca to a 1-1 draw. As per Transfermarkt, Boca’s current squad is worth £73 million — a whopping 19.2 times more than Auckland’s £3.8 million.
Semi-pro Auckland City say goodbye in style, holding Boca Juniors to a draw 😱
A fantastic achievement for a semi-pro side 👏 pic.twitter.com/DouiXnSjcx
— 433 (@433) June 24, 2025
In the 26th minute, goalkeeper Nathan Garrow scored an unfortunate own goal to give Boca the lead. But he made amends for his mistake, making 10 saves in the game. Auckland’s equaliser came from Christian Gray — a PE teacher by profession — in the 52nd minute.
The centre-back jumped the highest to head Jerson Lagos’ corner into the back of the net. The goal sealed a $1 million bonus for his team. Participation fee included, Auckland City have earned $3.5 million (£2.6 million) from the Club World Cup, benefitting from the tournament’s massive prize pool. It is by far the largest cash injection they have received.
Argentine Media Slams Boca Juniors After Loss to Auckland
While Auckland City players have turned into Oceania heroes, Boca Juniors, who handed FIFA a hefty amount in fines during their draw with Benfica, have faced the wrath of the media.
National newspaper, La Nacion, has called the draw an “international embarrassment”.
“Their Club World Cup campaign ended in the worst possible way, with a draw against amateur club Auckland City,” the newspaper noted (via MSN).
Ole journalist Ramiro Scandolo, meanwhile, claimed that Boca had embarrassed themselves after failing to beat “such a weak opponent”.
Boca captain Edinson Cavani, however, reacted differently. Although he was disappointed with Boca’s elimination, he credited Auckland City for the draw.
⚽🇳🇿 Christian Gray, the Auckland City defender who scored against Boca Juniors, is actually a SCHOOL TEACHER!
😳 He had to request time off work to play in the Club World Cup. 🏆📚 pic.twitter.com/iHdVKlKsJi
— Football Talk (@FootballTalkHQ) June 24, 2025
When asked about the result, the Uruguayan said:
“I don’t think it was that disappointing.”
It will not be surprising if this result ultimately takes a toll on Miguel Angel Russo’s chances of managing Boca for the foreseeable future.
