Pool cleaner on the pitch at the Club World Cup

The modest Auckland City team continues to surprise, first by drawing and eliminating Boca Juniors and then by revealing how some of its members make a living.

An unexpected page was written in the history of the 2025 Club World Cup on Tuesday. At Geodis Park in Nashville, Auckland City, a semi-professional club from New Zealand, drew 1-1 with Boca Juniors , leaving the Argentine team with no chance of advancing to the next round.

But beyond the result, what continues to draw attention is the story of Auckland, a team made up of players who are everything but 100 percent footballers. After learning that the goal scorer is a school teacher, a pool cleaner has now also come to light.

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THE BEST: THE MONEY

The draw was not only a sporting joy, but also an unexpected financial reward. FIFA will award the New Zealand club $1 million for earning a point in the group stage.

Sebastián Ciganda, the team's substitute goalkeeper, shared details about the current situation within the squad: "We're going to share the prize money among the entire staff and squad. I'm a pool and hot tub cleaner," he said in an interview with DSports Radio.

Ciganda also revealed that he had to take unpaid leave to be in the United States with the team. "I didn't get paid for the days we were in the United States. If they didn't give me permission, I would have quit," he confessed candidly.

Auckland City's participation, despite the initial thrashing, ultimately left an indelible mark . Not only did they demonstrate that football still has room for surprises, but they also honored the efforts of hundreds of semi-professional footballers who dream of competing at the highest level.

THE MATCH THAT IMMORTALIZES THEM

Speaking of the match, what seemed like a routine day for the Boca Juniors ended up becoming a monumental disappointment. Christian Gray, a physical education teacher and Auckland player, was responsible for scoring the equalizer , a goal that not only eliminated Boca Juniors but also gave the New Zealand team its first and only point in the group stage.

This result took on even more significance considering Auckland City's difficult run in the tournament. In their first two matches, the Oceanian side suffered brutal defeats: 10-0 against Bayern Munich and 6-0 against Benfica.

The predictions for the final match weren't encouraging, but the team managed to recover emotionally and stood up with dignity against one of the biggest clubs on the American continent.