AFC and OFC to Cincinnati, expectations for this summer's FIFA Club World Cup.
- Kenta Hagiwara
- 5 days ago
- 4 min read
March 30, 2025 (CINCINNATI, OH) - Both AFC and OFC will be represented in Cincinnati, OH in 2025, as TQL Stadium plays host to Auckland City FC and Ulsan HD FC in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.
The opposition - the two German giants: Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund, respectively... in the city with rich German heritage.
AUCKLAND CITY FC
"I'm massively proud and the club's massively proud for the effort we put in to get oursleves there [FIFA Club World Cup] and the fact that we've been the best team in Oceania that has qualified for this competition. That's massive." - Dylan Manickum, midfielder.
Auckland City FC are three-time reigning OFC Champions League winners. The last two seasons, they've been a part of the previous FIFA Club World Cup format (name changed for 2024 to the FIFA Intercontinental Cup), losing out in the first round AFC's Al-Ittihad and Al Ahly in both tournaments. In 2025, they'll play a minimum of three matches with the new FIFA Club World Cup format, including a clash against Bayern Munich, who until last season had won 11 consecutive Bundesliga titles.
"Playing Bayern Munich... I don't really know what to say. We get a chance to test ourselves against the very best players in the world, at a club that's done it all at the highest level for over 100 years." "For us, I guess it's probably a difficult one to approach when you're a massive underdog, but we'll give it 100% and our best effort, work hard, and try to figure it out together." - Dylan Manickum
Auckland City FC were regulars at the FIFA Club World Cup, making eight appearances at the competition as the OFC representatives between 2009 and 2017, missing just one year in 2010. In the 2009 FIFA Club World Cup, Auckland secured their first two wins at the global competition, the first for any New Zealand based club, but also the first for an amateur side at the tournament.
Auckalnd's most successful run came in 2014 FIFA Club World Cup, a third place finish that saw them win against the host, Morocco's Moghreb Tétouan, CAF Champions League winners ES Sétif, and then CONCACF Champions League winners Cruz Azul in penalties to secure a spot on the podium.
After missing out on the tournament for three years, Auckland City FC were forced to withdraw from the 2020 FIFA Club World Cup due to COVID-19 restrictions, and the club would have to wait until the 2022 FIFA Club World Cup to participate in the competition once again.
Auckland City FC's past results at the FIFA Club World Cup/Intercontinental Cup:
2006: Sixth place finish. 2-0 loss to Al Ahly, 3-0 loss to Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors.
2009: Fifth place finish. 2-0 win over Al-Ahli, 3-0 loss to Atlante, 3-2 win over TP Mazembe.
2011: First round exit. 2-0 loss to Kashiwa Reysol.
2012: First round exit. 1-0 loss to Sanfrecce Hiroshima.
2013: First round exit. 2-1 loss to Raja Casablanca.
2014: Third place finish. 0(4)-0(3) win over Moghreb Tétouan, 1-0 win over ES Sétif, 2-1 loss to San Lorenzo, 1(4)-1(2) win over Cruz Azul.
2015: First round exit. 2-0 loss to Sanfrecce Hiroshima.
2016: First round exit. 2-1 loss to Kashima Antlers.
2017: First round exit. 1-0 loss to Al-Jazira.
2020: Withdrew due to COVID-19.
2022: First round exit. 2-0 loss to Al Ahly.
2023: First round exit. 3-0 loss to Al-Ittihad.
ULSAN HD FC
"For us, I think that competing against team at a world class level is going to be a good opportunity. Fellow ethnic Koreans living in the United States and the football fans in South Korea will expect a strong performance from Ulsan HD in the [FIFA] Club World Cup and a lot of them will be cheering for our team as well, so I hope we will showcase our abilities in the matches." - Kim Pan-Gon, Ulsan HD FC Head Coach
Ulsan HD FC has been the model of consistency in the South Korean top tier of club football, winning the K-League every year since 2022. The Korean giants won the AFC Champions League in 2020, but struggled mightly in the group stage of the redesigned 2024-25 AFC Champions League Elite, scoring 4 goals and conceding 16 in 7 matches (One match was not played as Chinese Super League side Shandong Taishan were forced to forfeit on the final matchday.)
For Ulsan HD, bouncing back from their disappointing ACL Elite performance will be crucial. Ulsan HD plays against Mamelodi Sundowns FC (South Africa) and Fluminense (Brazil) before coming to Cincinnati to play against Borussia Dortmund at TQL Stadium.
"I feel proud but I also acknowledge the significant responsibility in representing South Korea, and the Asian continent." "We need to compete strongly against teams from other continents. I also feel we are duty bound to come with a competitive edge to the competition." - Kim Pan-Gon
The two time AFC Champions League winners are one of just four clubs that have won the prestigious continental tournament more than once since the tournament's expansion in 2009 - the others being Al-Hilal, Urawa Red Diamonds, and Gwangzhou.
Former Malaysian National Team and Hong Kong National Team head coach Kim Pan-Gon took over the managerial duties in the summer of 2024. While Kim Pan-Gon was able to help lead the club win their third consecutive K-League title, their struggle in the updated AFC Champions League Elite format - one win in seven matches. The last time Ulsan HD failed to record multiple wins in a single AFC Champions League campaign (including PK shootouts) was in 2014 - and Ulsan HD have participated in the competition every year since 2017.
Ulsan HD have yet to win a match at the FIFA Club World Cup, losing all four matches they've played in the previous editions of the tournament.
Ulsan HD FC's past results at the FIFA Club World Cup:
2012: Sixth place finish. 3-1 loss to CF Monterrey, 3-2 loss to Sanfrecce Hiroshima.
2020: Sixth place finish. 2-1 loss to Tigres UANL, 3-1 loss to Al-Duhail.
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