Auckland City weren't even coached by their normal coach, Paul Rosa, as personal circumstances kept him from heading to the United States with the team for the initial phase of the tournament, where the Navy Blues were led by a group of Adria Casals, Ivan Vicelich, Daewook Kim, and Jonas Hoffmann.

Auckland City, the only amateur team in the FIFA Club World Cup, stunned soccer power Boca Juniors in a group stage game at Geodis Park.

Christian Gray, a trainee teacher at an Intermediate School in Auckland, scored in a famous draw vs. Boca Juniors.