Soccer-Auckland City amateurs take a break from the day job for Club World Cup

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Club World Cup - Draw - Miami, Florida, United States - December 5, 2024 Artist Romero Britto draws Auckland City FC REUTERS/Brian Snyder/File Photo

(Reuters) -While most of the teams at the revamped Club World Cup would have a claim to be among the best sides in their countries, Auckland City are not even the biggest club in New Zealand's most populous city.

That status belongs to Auckland FC, who played in front of crowds of almost 30,000 as they topped the regular standings in their debut campaign in Australia's A-League this year.