2025 FIFA Club World Cup Group C

Group C was one of eight groups in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, an international club soccer tournament hosted in the United States and organized by FIFA. It comprised four teams: Bayern Munich of Germany; Auckland City of New Zealand; Boca Juniors of Argentina; and Benfica of Portugal. Teams qualified by winning the respective continental club championships of their confederation or through a ranking of their performance in competitions. Only two clubs per country were allowed to qualify unless three or four won their respective continental club championship. The 2025 edition of the FIFA Club World Cup is the first in the tournament's history to be played under its quadrennial format with 32 teams.[1] The group's matches began on June 15 and concluded on June 24.[2]

Teams

The four teams in Group C were decided by the FIFA Club World Cup draw held by FIFA on December 5, 2024, in the Miami area. The 32 participants were divided into four pots based on their confederation and ranking within FIFA's club ranking system.[3] Each of the eight groups would receive one team from each pot. Teams from the same confederation could not be drawn into the same group except for those from UEFA, which had twelve slots; teams from the same national association were not able to be drawn into the same group.[4]

2025 FIFA Club World Cup Group C draw
Draw position Team Association[4] Pot[4] Confederation[4] Method of
qualification[3]
Date of
qualification
Appearance Last
appearance
Previous best
performance
C1 Bayern Munich  Germany 1 UEFA UEFA four-year ranking (1st among eligible) December 17, 2023 3rd 2020 Winners (2013, 2020)
C2 Auckland City  New Zealand 4 OFC OFC Champions League winners four-year ranking December 17, 2023 12th 2023 Third place (2014)
C3 Boca Juniors  Argentina 3 CONMEBOL CONMEBOL four-year ranking (2nd among eligible) August 22, 2024 2nd 2007 Runners-up (2007)
C4 Benfica  Portugal 2 UEFA UEFA four-year ranking (7th among eligible) December 17, 2023 1st

Standings

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Benfica 3 2 1 0 9 2 +7 7 Advance to knockout stage
2 Bayern Munich 3 2 0 1 12 2 +10 6
3 Boca Juniors 3 0 2 1 4 5 −1 2
4 Auckland City 3 0 1 2 1 17 −16 1
Source: FIFA
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers

In the round of 16:[5]

  • The winners of Group C, Benfica, advanced to play the runners-up of Group D, Chelsea.
  • The runners-up of Group C, Bayern Munich, advanced to play the winners of Group D, Flamengo.

Matches

Matches took place from June 15 to 24. All times listed are local.

Bayern Munich vs Auckland City

Bayern Munich 10–0 Auckland City
  • Coman 6', 21'
  • Boey 18'
  • Olise 20', 45+3'
  • Müller 45', 89'
  • Musiala 67', 73' (pen.), 84'
Report
Attendance: 21,152[6]
Referee: Issa Sy (Senegal)
Bayern Munich[7]
Auckland City[7]
GK 1 Manuel Neuer (c)
RB 23 Sacha Boey
CB 4 Jonathan Tah
CB 44 Josip Stanišić  82'
LB 22 Raphaël Guerreiro  61'
CM 6 Joshua Kimmich
CM 45 Aleksandar Pavlović
RW 17 Michael Olise  46'
AM 25 Thomas Müller
LW 11 Kingsley Coman  46'
CF 9 Harry Kane  61'
Substitutions:
MF 46 Lennart Karl  46'
FW 7 Serge Gnabry  46'
DF 2 Dayot Upamecano  61'
MF 42 Jamal Musiala  61'
DF 49 Adam Aznou  82'
Manager:
Vincent Kompany
GK 1 Conor Tracey
CB 3 Adam Mitchell
CB 25 Michael den Heijer  82'
CB 5 Nikko Boxall
RWB 12 Regont Murati
LWB 13 Nathan Lobo  66'
RM 26 David Yoo  71'
CM 8 Gerard Garriga  66'
CM 2 Mario Ilich (c)
LM 10 Dylan Manickum  71'
CF 7 Myer Bevan
Substitutions:
FW 17 Jerson Lagos  66'
MF 22 Zhou Tong  66'
FW 11 Ryan De Vries  71'
FW 9 Angus Kilkolly  71'
DF 23 Alfie Rogers  82'
Interim manager:
Ivan Vicelich[note 1]

Man of the Match:
Michael Olise (Bayern Munich)[10]

Assistant referees:[7]
Djibril Camara (Senegal)
Nouha Bangoura (Senegal)
Fourth official:
Mutaz Ibrahim (Libya)
Video assistant referee:
Mahmoud Ashour (Egypt)
Assistant video assistant referee:
Nicolás Gallo (Colombia)
Support video assistant referee:
Khamis Al-Marri (Qatar)

Boca Juniors vs Benfica

Boca Juniors 2–2 Benfica
Report
Boca Juniors[12]
Benfica[12]
GK 25 Agustín Marchesín
RB 17 Luis Advíncula
CB 4 Nicolás Figal  88'
CB 32 Ayrton Costa  85'
LB 23 Lautaro Blanco
DM 5 Rodrigo Battaglia
CM 21 Ander Herrera  45'  20'
CM 8 Carlos Palacios  66'  66'
RF 22 Kevin Zenón
CF 16 Miguel Merentiel (c)  65'
LF 20 Alan Velasco  58'
Substitutions:
MF 30 Tomás Belmonte  20'
FW 9 Milton Giménez  58'
FW 7 Exequiel Zeballos  65'
MF 15 Williams Alarcón  66'
Manager:
Miguel Ángel Russo
GK 1 Anatoliy Trubin
RB 26 Samuel Dahl  46'
CB 4 António Silva
CB 30 Nicolás Otamendi (c)
LB 3 Álvaro Carreras  67'
CM 61 Florentino Luís  90'
CM 85 Renato Sanches  61'
RW 11 Ángel Di María  77'
AM 8 Fredrik Aursnes
LW 27 Bruma  61'
CF 14 Vangelis Pavlidis  83'
Substitutions:
FW 19 Andrea Belotti  70'  46'
FW 17 Kerem Aktürkoğlu  61'
MF 10 Orkun Kökçü  61'
FW 25 Gianluca Prestianni  77'
MF 18 Leandro Barreiro  90'
Manager:
Bruno Lage

Man of the Match:
Miguel Merentiel (Boca Juniors)[10]

Assistant referees:[12]
Alberto Morín (Mexico)
Marco Bisguerra (Mexico)
Fourth official:
Iván Barton (El Salvador)
Video assistant referee:
Guillermo Pacheco (Mexico)
Assistant video assistant referee:
Armando Villarreal (United States)
Support video assistant referee:
Carlos del Cerro Grande (Spain)

Benfica vs Auckland City

At 1:06 pm EDT, during the half-time break, the match was interrupted due to adverse weather conditions. The match was resumed at 3:20 pm EDT.[13]

Benfica 6–0 Auckland City
Report
Attendance: 6,730[14]
Referee: Salman Falahi (Qatar)
Benfica[15]
Auckland City[15]
GK 1 Anatoliy Trubin
RB 8 Fredrik Aursnes  71'
CB 4 António Silva  86'
CB 30 Nicolás Otamendi (c)
LB 3 Álvaro Carreras  45+4'  46'
CM 18 Leandro Barreiro
CM 10 Orkun Kökçü  48'  61'
RW 11 Ángel Di María
AM 25 Gianluca Prestianni  71'
LW 17 Kerem Aktürkoğlu  61'
CF 14 Vangelis Pavlidis
Substitutions:
DF 26 Samuel Dahl  46'
MF 85 Renato Sanches  61'
FW 21 Andreas Schjelderup  61'
FW 47 Tiago Gouveia  71'
FW 84 João Rego  71'
DF 81 Adrian Bajrami  87'  86'
Manager:
Bruno Lage
GK 24 Nathan Garrow
CB 3 Adam Mitchell
CB 25 Michael den Heijer  80'
CB 5 Nikko Boxall
RWB 21 Adam Bell
LWB 17 Jerson Lagos
RM 26 David Yoo  59'
CM 22 Zhou Tong  46'
CM 2 Mario Ilich (c)  59'
LM 27 Haris Zeb  59'
CF 7 Myer Bevan  73'
Substitutions:
MF 8 Gerard Garriga  46'
MF 6 Jackson Manuel  59'
FW 10 Dylan Manickum  59'
MF 20 Matt Ellis  59'
FW 11 Ryan De Vries  73'
DF 4 Christian Gray  80'
Manager:
Paul Posa

Man of the Match:
Ángel Di María (Benfica)[10]

Assistant referees:[15]
Ramzan Al-Naemi (Qatar)
Majid Al-Shammari (Qatar)
Fourth official:
Danny Makkelie (Netherlands)
Video assistant referee:
Khamis Al-Marri (Qatar)
Assistant video assistant referee:
Fu Ming (China)
Support video assistant referee:
Rob Dieperink (Netherlands)

Bayern Munich vs Boca Juniors

Bayern Munich 2–1 Boca Juniors
Report Merentiel 66'
Bayern Munich[17]
Boca Juniors[17]
GK 1 Manuel Neuer (c)
RB 27 Konrad Laimer
CB 4 Jonathan Tah
CB 44 Josip Stanišić
LB 22 Raphaël Guerreiro  67'
CM 6 Joshua Kimmich
CM 8 Leon Goretzka  45+3'  57'
RW 17 Michael Olise
AM 7 Serge Gnabry  57'
LW 11 Kingsley Coman  67'
CF 9 Harry Kane
Substitutions:
MF 45 Aleksandar Pavlović  57'
MF 42 Jamal Musiala  57'  82'
FW 10 Leroy Sané  67'
DF 2 Dayot Upamecano  67'
FW 25 Thomas Müller  82'
Manager:
Vincent Kompany
GK 25 Agustín Marchesín
RB 17 Luis Advíncula  36'
CB 40 Lautaro Di Lollo  71'
CB 32 Ayrton Costa
LB 23 Lautaro Blanco
CM 5 Rodrigo Battaglia
CM 30 Tomás Belmonte  69'
RW 22 Kevin Zenón  59'
AM 8 Carlos Palacios  69'
LW 20 Alan Velasco  80'
CF 16 Miguel Merentiel (c)  80'
Substitutions:
MF 27 Malcom Braida  59'
FW 9 Milton Giménez  69'
MF 15 Williams Alarcón  69'
FW 7 Exequiel Zeballos  80'
DF 3 Marcelo Saracchi  80'
Other disciplinary actions:
DF 6 Marcos Rojo  15'
Manager:
Miguel Ángel Russo

Man of the Match:
Harry Kane (Bayern Munich)[10]

Assistant referees:[17]
Anton Shchetinin (Australia)
Ashley Beecham (Australia)
Fourth official:
Tori Penso (United States)
Video assistant referee:
Tatiana Guzmán (Nicaragua)
Assistant video assistant referee:
Shaun Evans (Australia)
Support video assistant referee:
Jérôme Brisard (France)

Auckland City vs Boca Juniors

At 3:21 pm CDT, in the 54th minute, the match was interrupted due to adverse weather conditions. The match was resumed at 4:10 pm.[18]

Auckland City 1–1 Boca Juniors
Gray 52' Report Garrow 26' (o.g.)
Attendance: 16,899[19]
Referee: Glenn Nyberg (Sweden)
Auckland City[20]
Boca Juniors[20]
GK 24 Nathan Garrow
CB 4 Christian Gray
CB 3 Adam Mitchell
CB 5 Nikko Boxall
RWB 12 Regont Murati  54'
LWB 17 Jerson Lagos  83'
RM 26 David Yoo  54'
CM 8 Gerard Garriga  54'
CM 2 Mario Ilich (c)
LM 10 Dylan Manickum  68'
CF 7 Myer Bevan
Substitutions:
MF 14 Jordan Vale  54'
MF 20 Matt Ellis  54'
DF 19 Dylan Connolly  54'
FW 27 Haris Zeb  68'
FW 16 Joseph Lee  83'
Manager:
Paul Posa
GK 25 Agustín Marchesín
RB 17 Luis Advíncula
CB 40 Lautaro Di Lollo
CB 26 Marco Pellegrino
LB 23 Lautaro Blanco
CM 5 Rodrigo Battaglia
CM 8 Carlos Palacios
AM 20 Alan Velasco  54'
RF 7 Exequiel Zeballos  26'
CF 10 Edinson Cavani (c)  54'
LF 16 Miguel Merentiel
Substitutions:
MF 22 Kevin Zenón  26'
FW 9 Milton Giménez  54'
MF 27 Malcom Braida  54'
Manager:
Miguel Ángel Russo

Man of the Match:
Christian Gray (Auckland City)[10]

Assistant referees:[20]
Mahbod Beigi (Sweden)
Andreas Söderkvist (Sweden)
Fourth official:
Jean-Jacques Ndala (DR Congo)
Video assistant referee:
Bram Van Driessche (Belgium)
Assistant video assistant referee:
Rob Dieperink (Netherlands)
Support video assistant referee:
Mahmoud Ashour (Egypt)

Benfica vs Bayern Munich

Benfica 1–0 Bayern Munich
Schjelderup 13' Report
Benfica[22]
Bayern Munich[22]
GK 1 Anatoliy Trubin
RB 8 Fredrik Aursnes
CB 4 António Silva
CB 30 Nicolás Otamendi (c)  46'
LB 26 Samuel Dahl
CM 85 Renato Sanches  19'  78'
CM 18 Leandro Barreiro
RW 11 Ángel Di María  86'
AM 25 Gianluca Prestianni  54'
LW 21 Andreas Schjelderup  54'
CF 14 Vangelis Pavlidis  86'
Substitutions:
MF 10 Orkun Kökçü  54'
FW 17 Kerem Aktürkoğlu  54'
DF 81 Adrian Bajrami  78'
FW 84 João Rego  86'
FW 47 Tiago Gouveia  89'  86'
Manager:
Bruno Lage
GK 1 Manuel Neuer (c)
RB 23 Sacha Boey  62'
CB 2 Dayot Upamecano  58'
CB 44 Josip Stanišić
LB 22 Raphaël Guerreiro
CM 16 João Palhinha  46'
CM 45 Aleksandar Pavlović
RW 10 Leroy Sané
AM 20 Tom Bischof  46'
LW 7 Serge Gnabry  46'
CF 25 Thomas Müller
Substitutions:
MF 6 Joshua Kimmich  46'
FW 9 Harry Kane  46'
FW 17 Michael Olise  46'
DF 4 Jonathan Tah  58'
MF 27 Konrad Laimer  62'
Manager:
Vincent Kompany

Man of the Match:
Anatoliy Trubin (Benfica)[10]

Assistant referees:[22]
Cyril Mugnier (France)
Mehdi Rahmouni (France)
Fourth official:
Espen Eskås (Norway)
Video assistant referee:
Jérôme Brisard (France)
Assistant video assistant referee:
Ivan Bebek (Croatia)
Support video assistant referee:
Hamza Al-Fariq (Morocco)

Discipline

Fair play points would have been used as tiebreakers if the overall and head-to-head records of teams were tied. These were calculated based on yellow and red cards received in all group matches as follows:[5]

  • first yellow card: −1 point;
  • indirect red card (second yellow card): −3 points;
  • direct red card: −4 points;
  • yellow card and direct red card: −5 points;

Only one of the above deductions was applied to a player in a single match.

Team Match 1 Match 2 Match 3 Points
           
Auckland City 0
Bayern Munich 1 −1
Benfica 2 1 3 3 −12
Boca Juniors 2 2 3 −13

Notes

  1. ^ As Auckland City manager Paul Posa would remained in New Zealand during the first two weeks of June due to personal reasons,[8] Ivan Vicelich served as the interim manager for Auckland City's first match.[9]

References

  1. ^ Middleton, Emma (December 3, 2024). "How does the new Club World Cup work?". BBC Sport. Retrieved May 12, 2025.
  2. ^ "FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Match Schedule" (PDF). FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. December 7, 2024. Retrieved June 10, 2025.
  3. ^ a b Johnson, Dale (May 7, 2025). "FIFA Club World Cup: Format, draw, teams, schedule ... Messi". ESPN. Retrieved May 12, 2025.
  4. ^ a b c d "Draw Procedures for the FIFA Club World Cup 2025" (PDF). FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. December 2024. pp. 2–5. Retrieved May 12, 2025.
  5. ^ a b "Regulations for the FIFA Club World Cup 2025" (PDF). FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. November 5, 2024. Retrieved November 5, 2024.
  6. ^ "Match Report: FC Bayern München v. Auckland City FC" (PDF). FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. June 15, 2025. Retrieved June 15, 2025.
  7. ^ a b c "Tactical Line-up: FC Bayern München v. Auckland City FC" (PDF). FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. June 15, 2025. Retrieved June 15, 2025.
  8. ^ "Coaching Update for FIFA Club World Cup USA 2025". AucklandCityFC.com. Auckland City FC. May 31, 2025. Retrieved June 14, 2025.
  9. ^ "Diplomatic welcome for New Zealand champions as FIFA Club World Cup nears". Friends of Football. June 9, 2025. Retrieved June 9, 2025.
  10. ^ a b c d e f "Michelob ULTRA Superior Player of the Match". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Retrieved June 24, 2025.
  11. ^ "Match Report: CA Boca Juniors v. SL Benfica" (PDF). FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. June 16, 2025. Retrieved June 16, 2025.
  12. ^ a b c "Tactical Line-up: CA Boca Juniors v. SL Benfica" (PDF). FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. June 16, 2025. Retrieved June 16, 2025.
  13. ^ Rampling, Ali (June 20, 2025). "Benfica-Auckland City Club World Cup game endures over two-hour weather delay". The Athletic. Retrieved June 21, 2025.
  14. ^ "Match Report: SL Benfica v. Auckland City FC" (PDF). FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. June 20, 2025. Retrieved June 20, 2025.
  15. ^ a b c "Tactical Line-up: SL Benfica v. Auckland City FC" (PDF). FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. June 19, 2025. Retrieved June 19, 2025.
  16. ^ "Match Report: FC Bayern München v. CA Boca Juniors" (PDF). FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. June 20, 2025. Retrieved June 20, 2025.
  17. ^ a b c "Tactical Line-up: FC Bayern München v. CA Boca Juniors" (PDF). FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. June 20, 2025. Retrieved June 20, 2025.
  18. ^ "Boca Juniors draw with Auckland City, exit Club World Cup". Reuters. June 24, 2025. Retrieved June 25, 2025.
  19. ^ "Match Report: Auckland City FC v. CA Boca Juniors" (PDF). FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. June 24, 2025. Retrieved June 24, 2025.
  20. ^ a b c "Tactical Line-up: Auckland City FC v. CA Boca Juniors" (PDF). FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. June 24, 2025. Retrieved June 24, 2025.
  21. ^ "Match Report: SL Benfica v. FC Bayern München" (PDF). FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. June 24, 2025. Retrieved June 24, 2025.
  22. ^ a b c "Tactical Line-up: SL Benfica v. FC Bayern München" (PDF). FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. June 24, 2025. Retrieved June 24, 2025.