All You Need to Know About Auckland City, Al Ahly's Opponent in the Club World Cup

Al Ahly is preparing to face New Zealand's Auckland City next Wednesday at 9 PM at the Al-Inma Stadium in Jeddah, as part of the preliminary round of the 2026 Club World Cup.

Al Ahly enters the global tournament for the second year in a row, having retained the AFC Champions League title, renewing their appearance against one of the top clubs from the Oceania continent.

Auckland City is one of the most successful clubs in Oceania, having established itself as a regular name in international competitions since its inception, and has made a significant impact over the past years.

The club was officially established on February 3, 2004, by Ivan Vukšić and several board members. It played its first official match in October of the same year against Napier City, winning 3-1.

Auckland City’s roots are tied to older football institutions in the city, most notably Jadran, which emerged in the 1950s, followed by Central United, founded in 1962.

The club quickly established itself in both local and continental competitions, having won the Oceania Champions League 13 times, a record for the tournament, along with securing 11 titles in the New Zealand National League.

Auckland City has an impressive record in the Club World Cup, having participated 11 times and played 20 matches. Their best result came in 2014 when they secured third place.

This achievement marks the best result for an Oceania club in the history of the FIFA Club World Cup, having previously finished fifth in the 2009 edition.

Historically, one of the standout stars is Argentine Emiliano Tadi, who played 242 matches for Auckland City and scored 152 goals, making him the club's all-time top scorer.

Ryan De Vries follows with a tally of 50 goals in 111 matches, while Ángel Berlangas is ranked among the most capped players for the team, reflecting the club's long history on the international stage.