Who are Bayern's FIFA Club World Cup opponents? | OneFootball

Who are Bayern Munich's FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Group C opponents?

Ahead of Bayern Munich's FIFA Club World Cup 2025 campaign, bundesliga.com gives you the lowdown on their group stage opponents Auckland City, Boca Juniors and Benfica.

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Auckland City (New Zealand)

When: 15 June

Where: TQL Stadium, Cincinnati

How they qualified: Auckland qualified for the tournament via the rankings pathway by being the most successful side in the OFC Champions League over the past four years. That somewhat underestimates their dominance in Oceania, though. They have won each of the past three editions of the competition.

Their credentials: The Navy Blues are the biggest force in New Zealand, winning the New Zealand Football Championship nine times since they were founded in 2004, as well as 10 of the past 12 OFC Champions Leagues. Therefore, they have regularly competed at the Club World Cup, finishing third in 2014 after defeating Cruz Azul of Mexico on penalties in the third-place play-off.

Star men: Ryan De Vries is currently within 12 appearances of the Auckland City all-time appearance record holder Emiliano Tade, who is also the only player to score more than De Vries’ 89 goals for the club. However, with 64 goals in 117 games, Angus Kilkolly may well be his team’s biggest danger man.

Ryan De Vries (No.10) will face arguably the biggest test of his professional career against Bayern. (imago sportfotodienst)

Record vs Bayern/ German clubs: This will, unsurprisingly, be the first meeting between the teams and Auckland's first against German opposition.

Anything else? Auckland play their games at Kiwitea Street, while their club crest features the Sky Tower, an iconic landmark in the city.

Boca Juniors (Argentina)

When: 21 June

Where: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami

How they qualified: Boca haven't won the Copa Libertadores - the South American equivalent of the UEFA Champions League - in the past four years, but they reached the final in 2023 before losing to Brazilian outfit Fluminense. Despite Boca not qualifying for the competition, a defeat for Uruguay’s Nacional to São Paulo in the last 32 of last year’s tournament was enough to secure the Argentine outfit’s place in the USA.

Their credentials: Boca are one of South America’s most successful teams. With six Libertadores titles, they are the second-most decorated side in the competition’s history, while they have more silverware than any other Argentinian outfit. Much about Boca is iconic, whether it be their famous blue and gold shirt, the incomparable Bombonera Stadium or even having Diego Armando Maradona amongst their club legends. They have also won the Intercontinental Cup (the Club World Cup’s predecessor) three times and will hope to impress this time around, too.

Star men: European fans will remember former Manchester United duo Sergio Romero and Ander Herrera. Frank Fabra and Miguel Merentiel are among the club’s all-time top 10 appearance-makers and goalscorers, but captain and Uruguay star Edinson Cavani is the biggest name. With 25 goals in 65 appearances since joining in 2023, he will be eager to make another splash on the big stage this summer.

Edinson Cavani is Boca Juniors captain and stand-out player. (IMAGO/Manuel Cortina / SOPA Images)

Record vs Bayern/ German clubs: This will be Boca’s fourth meeting with a German club and their second with Bayern. They were unbeaten in the two legs of the 1977 Intercontinental Cup final against Borussia Mönchengladbach, prevailing 5-2 on aggregate, but were edged out by the Bavarians 1-0 after extra-time in the 2001 showpiece.

Anything else? Boca have teams across numerous sports, such as basketball, handball and even chess.

Benfica (Portugal)

When: 24 June

Where: Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte

How they qualified: Benfica also booked their place at the tournament by the rankings pathway. They have reached the quarter-finals in two of the last four Champions League campaigns, while a UEFA Europa League appearance last season gave their qualification push the final boost it required.

Their credentials: Benfica are Portugal’s most successful club and have won the Champions League twice. The most recent of those victories came in 1962, though, when the Intercontinental Cup was not yet contested. While the Eagles are used to lifting trophies, they were knocked out of Europe’s premier club competition by Barcelona in the last 16 in 2024/25.

Star men: Striker Vangelis Pavlidis has been in terrific form this campaign, netting 25 goals in all competitions. Still performing at a high level despite his veteran status is Ángel Di Maria, while Nicolás Otamendi has made over 200 appearances for the club. Meanwhile, former Mainz midfielder Leandro Barreiro and ex-Bayern man Renato Sanches feature in the squad.

Record vs Bayern/ German clubs: As one of Europe’s biggest clubs, Benfica have regularly come up against German clubs in continental competition – 55 times, in fact. They have won 15 of those matches, although none against Bayern, who they have already met 13 times. Their most recent clash with the record Bundesliga champions was this season in the Champions League league phase, with Jamal Musiala scoring the game's only goal.

Anything else? Legend has it that Benfica are under a curse cast by former head coach Bela Gutmann, who is said to have declared that the club “will never be European champions in 100 years” since leaving in 1962. They have since lost eight finals across the Champions League/ European Cup and UEFA Cup/ \ Europa League. Whether that bad luck extends to world tournaments remains to be seen.

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