Boca Juniors’ journey in the Club World Cup came to a bitter end. The Argentine giants drew 1-1 against semi-professional Auckland City in their final Group C match. The result, combined with Benfica’s 1-0 win over Bayern Munich, sealed Boca’s elimination from the tournament.
What began with hope and flashes of competitive play against European powerhouses ended with frustration and a lackluster performance against a team of part-time players.
A chaotic and disjointed match
Played in sweltering heat in Nashville, the match was suspended for 50 minutes due to thunderstorms. On the field, Boca showed a concerning lack of ideas and execution.
They took the lead in the 26th minute after a header from Lautaro Di Lollo hit the post and bounced off goalkeeper Nathan Garrow into the net. But the advantage was short-lived. Auckland City equalized in the 52nd minute with a header from Christian Gray—their only clear chance of the game.
Lack of firepower despite attacking setup
Miguel Ángel Russo lined up five forwards (Cavani, Merentiel, Velasco, Zeballos, and Palacios), but Boca couldn’t find depth or accuracy. Merentiel had a goal ruled out for a handball by Zenón, and aside from a few long-range attempts, Boca rarely troubled the opposition.
Substitutes like Giménez and Janson offered little impact, and the team’s energy faded as the minutes ticked by.
Benfica delivered, Boca didn’t
While Boca waited in the locker room during the weather delay, Benfica held their lead against Bayern in Charlotte—clinching the top spot in the group. That left Boca needing a miracle: a high-margin win plus a Bayern comeback. Neither happened.
With two draws and a loss, Boca exited the tournament winless. The contrast was stark—from nearly beating Benfica and challenging Bayern to failing against a semi-pro side.
A disappointing farewell
Boca leaves the Club World Cup with more questions than answers. The elimination wasn’t just about what others did—but what Boca failed to do. The missed opportunity against Auckland City now overshadows everything else.
