On Sunday, June 15, Bayern Munich will face Auckland City in the opening group-stage match of the FIFA Club World Cup at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Bundesliga champions, coming off a dominant 2024-25 season with 82 points and 99 goals scored, are heavy favorites against the New Zealand side, who qualified as Oceania’s representatives after winning their fourth consecutive OFC Champions League title. This David-versus-Goliath clash marks the first-ever meeting between the two teams, with Bayern aiming for their third Club World Cup crown and Auckland City hoping to make history in their 13th tournament appearance.
Prediction
Bayern Munich are expected to dominate this encounter, given their superior squad depth, tactical discipline under Vincent Kompany, and recent form, which includes an unbeaten run of seven matches (four wins, three draws). The Bavarians have scored 16 goals in their last five outings, highlighting their offensive firepower led by Harry Kane.
Auckland City, despite their impressive Oceania record and a three-match winning streak, face a monumental challenge. The New Zealanders have lost 12 of their 17 Club World Cup matches, often without scoring, and their amateur status underscores the disparity in resources and experience. Bayern’s professional approach and depth should lead to a comfortable victory, likely by a margin of four or more goals, though they may conserve energy for later matches in the tournament. A clean sheet is also probable, given Bayern’s strong defensive record and Auckland’s limited attacking threat.
Possible lineups
Bayern Munich’s predicted lineup under Vincent Kompany is likely to feature a strong yet slightly rotated squad to manage player workload in the tournament’s early stage. Manuel Neuer is expected in goal, protected by a backline of Sacha Boey, Josip Stanisic, Jonathan Tah—who is set to make his debut as a starter—and Raphael Guerreiro. In midfield, Joshua Kimmich and Leon Goretzka are likely to anchor, with Michael Olise, Thomas Müller, and Kingsley Coman supporting striker Harry Kane. Jamal Musiala and Dayot Upamecano are expected to be available after recovering from injuries, though Alphonso Davies and Hiroki Ito remain sidelined.
For Auckland City, coach Jonas Hoffman is likely to deploy a 4-3-3 formation with Conor Tracey in goal, a defense of Jordan Lagos, Michael Mitchell, Winston Boxall, and Adam Lobo, and a midfield trio of Gerard Garriga, Mario Ilich, and Joseph Yoo. Up front, Dylan Manickum, Liam Bevan, and Angus Kilkolly are expected to lead the attack, with no reported injury concerns.
Betting tips
The significant class difference makes Bayern Munich overwhelming favorites, with odds as low as 1.01 for a win on platforms like Betway and SportPesa, rendering straightforward win bets less appealing. Instead, consider markets offering better value. Bayern to score over 2.5 goals in the first half is priced at 7/4 with BoyleSports, reflecting their tendency to start strongly, having scored in the opening period in each of their last five matches.
Another attractive option is over 5.5 total match goals at 6/5, given Bayern’s average of 3.8 goals per game in recent outings and Auckland’s defensive vulnerabilities, conceding in six of their last seven games. Harry Kane to score first is offered at 15/8, a solid pick considering his recent form, netting in four consecutive matches. For a riskier bet, Bayern to win by a -4 goal handicap is recommended at 2.0 odds with DraftKings, aligning with predictions of a high-scoring rout.