Auckland City's taunt to Boca following the historic draw in the Club World Cup

More than a month has passed since the historic 1-1 draw between Auckland City and Boca at the Club World Cup held in Nashville, but the New Zealand club is still savoring the memory. They did so in a particular way: by hanging a sign with a direct jab at Miguel Ángel Russo, coach of the Argentine team.

Everything goes back to the lead-up to the match, when Russo underestimated the opponent with a remark that was not well received: "Without disrespecting anyone, Bayern Munich's opponent is semi-professional (Auckland), it's from a country that is not fully professional," said the coach at a press conference.

Far from forgetting it, a poster with that very phrase and its English translation appeared at Auckland's facilities, alongside an image of the goal scored against Boca. The response, also printed, was forceful: "One week later, on 25 June 2025 at Geodis Park in Nashville, Tennessee, Auckland City famously held the mighty Boca Juniors to a 1-1 draw" (One week later, on June 25, 2025, at Geodis Park in Nashville, Tennessee, Auckland City drew 1-1 with the mighty Boca Juniors).

The sign was placed in the team's locker room before the match against Fencibles United in the New Zealand League. It was an elegant yet direct way to return the favor to Russo, who probably never imagined that his remark would be immortalized on the walls of a New Zealand locker room.

For Auckland, the draw against Xeneize was a milestone. Many took it for granted that they would lose decisively, but they ended up making history. Now, they also use that moment as internal motivation and as a reminder that, even when considered "semi-professionals," they can stand up to the giants of the South American continent.