FIFA Club World Cup 2025 | Group C: Auckland City vs CA Boca Juniors | Preview and Predictions

This Group C encounter of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup will be played between Oceania minnows Auckland City and Argentinian heavyweight CA Boca Juniors on June 25 at GEODIS Park, Nashville. 

Here’s our preview and prediction for the game.

FIFA Club World Cup 2025 | Group C: Auckland City vs CA Boca Juniors | 00:30 IST, June 25

With Bayern Munich already guaranteed to go through from Group C and second-placed Benfica three points and seven goals ahead of them, the Xeneize will need a significant goal-difference boost and hope Bayern thrash Benfica in the other fixture to reach the last 16.

Although Boca Juniors have given a good account of themselves so far, however, the 2-1 defeat to Bayern Munich in Miami left their dreams of making the Club World Cup knockout phase hanging by a thread. 

Having previously squandered a two-goal lead against Benfica, the late winner conceded against Bayern means Miguel Angel Russo’s men have just one point on the board, so only victory will do on Group C’s final matchday. 

However, even maximum points might not be enough, as Benfica just need to avoid defeat against Bayern to progress in second place; should the Lisbon club slip up, Boca would still need to win handsomely in Nashville, with a goal-difference deficit of seven to wipe out.

In any other situation, that task would look insurmountable, however, Oceania club Auckland City have shipped an average of eight per game so far. If two teams are tied on points and goal difference at the end of the group stages, it could even result in the runners-up spot being decided by Fair Play criteria, but in any case, Boca’s main priority would be to score as many as they can. 

It has been a complete mismatch in terms of quality looking at how Oceania minnows Auckland City have been thrashed around the park in their first two Group C encounters. The 13-time OFC Champions League winners now face a Boca Juniors side intent on piling up goals, which could spell more misery for fans back home in New Zealand.

After the 10-goal thrashing at the hands of Bayern Munich, Ivan Vicelich’s men were keeping Benfica at bay to some extent before a lightning storm intervened. However, after a long weather delay, they ultimately ended up losing 6-0 in Orlando.

As a result, the Navy Blues have now lost nine straight matches at FIFA’s top tournament, in spite of their undisputed status as Oceania’s top team. Although Auckland were outclassed by two teams who are regulars in the UEFA Champions League knockout phase, a far from vintage Boca Juniors side may not have enough firepower to produce a similar scoreline.

Miguel Angel Russo might have veteran Edinson Cavani on the bench after recovering from injury. However, centre-back Nicolas Figal and Spanish midfielder Ander Herrera – both of whom were sent off against Benfica – have been handed four-game bans. Moreover, Marcos Rojo has missed training and fellow defender Ayrton Costa is also ruled out by a muscle strain, so former AC Milan man Marco Pellegrino could be asked to deputise in Boca’s back four.

Thus, there is no doubt the Buenos Aires club is almost certain to win in Nashville, but given the lack of personnel in their ranks, there is a real possibility that a makeshift line-up might not click and give them a margin of victory which is unlikely to keep them alive in the tournament.

Score Prediction: Auckland City 0-3 CA Boca Juniors 

Venue: GEODIS Park, Nashville