City Welcome Michelob ULTRA 'Superior Call Up' Winner
Auckland City FC is proud to welcome Judah Negron, winner of the Michelob ULTRA 'Superior Call Up' contest, to the club's Team Base Camp in Chattanooga, Tennessee for the FIFA Club World Cup USA 2025™.
Despite a difficult result against Bayern Munich in their opening match, the mood in camp remains upbeat—and Judah's arrival has provided a timely lift.
Hailing from North Dakota, Negron has been a long time loyal supporter of the Navy Blues and has a deep connection to the team making him a fitting recipient of this once-in-a-lifetime experience.
As part of his prize, Judah will enjoy unprecedented insider access to Auckland City FC's tournament campaign.
He will join the team at training sessions, travel on the team bus, and be embedded in the squad environment—including locker room access and pitch-side moments—throughout the competition.
Negron arrived in Chattanooga on Friday and expressed his excitement at joining the Auckland City FC family as they prepare to face Bayern Munich, SL Benfica and Boca Juniors—the giants of Europe and South America—on the global stage.
This whole experience has been incredible so far,' Negron said. 'Thanks to Michelob ULTRA, I've been able to fulfil a lifelong dream by joining Auckland City FC at the Club World Cup.
'Being welcomed by the team and seeing what goes on behind the scenes has been unforgettable – I'll never forget it.'
Judah was officially welcomed to the team hotel by General Manager Gordon Watson, club captain Mario Ilich, senior players Dylan Manickum, Regont Murati, Angus Kilkolly, and Adam Mitchell, board member Colin Cook, and kit manager Keith Coton. The team presented him with a signed Auckland City FC jersey featuring the Michelob ULTRA branding across the front.
'We're thrilled to welcome Judah into the Auckland City FC family,' said Watson.
'He's a genuine fan who has followed our journey for over a decade, which made him the perfect choice for Michelob ULTRA's Superior Call Up.
'Michelob ULTRA has been an outstanding partner – creative, forward-thinking, and aligned with our values. Judah's presence is a natural and authentic extension of that relationship.
'Our players and staff are genuinely excited to have him with us. We're confident this experience will be memorable not only for Judah, but for everyone involved in our Club World Cup campaign.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RNZ News
13-07-2025
- RNZ News
Palmer double fires Chelsea past PSG to Club World Cup glory
Chelsea's English midfielder Cole Palmer poses with the Golden Ball trophy during the award ceremony for the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 champions. Photo: FRANCK FIFE / AFP Cole Palmer produced a scintillating first-half masterclass as Chelsea demolished a flat Paris St Germain 3-0 to win a one-sided Club World Cup final in New Jersey. The English attacking midfielder scored twice and provided an assist for Joao Pedro in a devastating display in the revamped tournament's decider that left the European and French champions, who finished with 10 men, shell-shocked. After a stunning season, PSG were heavy favourites, while Chelsea arrived in the U.S. after winning Europe's third-tier Conference League and on the back of a domestic campaign in which they just managed a top-four Premier League finish. Prior to the match, Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca said he was expecting a "game of chess" against PSG coach Luis Enrique, but what transpired was a quick checkmate for the Italian who gave a tactical masterclass. Chelsea, who won the 2021 Club World Cup in its previous format, struck first in the 22nd minute when PSG fullback Nuno Mendes gifted possession to Malo Gusto. While his initial effort was blocked by Mendes, Gusto collected the rebound and found Palmer unmarked in the middle and the midfielder made no mistake, slotting a tidy finish just inside the left post. Palmer doubled the lead after the 30th-minute cooling break with a goal of sublime quality. Latching onto a precise through ball from Levi Colwill, he cut inside before faking a pass to dummy a defender and firing into the bottom-left corner. Palmer then turned provider, running up the channel before finding Joao Pedro, who took the ball in his stride and beat the offside trap before chipping his finish beautifully over keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma. PSG's misery was completed when Joao Neves was sent off for pulling Marc Cucurella's hair in the 83rd minute, as PSG's players grew in frustration as the match progressed. The encounter turned ill-tempered at the end, with players going at each other after the final whistle, but the flare-ups quickly dissipated as Chelsea's players went to celebrate with their fans. -Reuters
NZ Herald
29-06-2025
- NZ Herald
Fifa Club World Cup: How Auckland City FC's wild ride charmed the football world
Over a period of two weeks in the United States, Auckland City FC captured more global headlines than any New Zealand football team since the All Whites at the 2010 Fifa World Cup. While most of those were initially for their painful struggles, there was a Cinderella ending, with the
Scoop
27-06-2025
- Scoop
Auckland City FC Seek Silver Lining In Nashville
24 June 2025 NASHVILLE, Tennessee - For Auckland City FC, Tuesday's clash with Boca Juniors is more than a final fixture, it's a final stand. After two humbling defeats in Group C, the Navy Blues are out of the FIFA Club World Cup™, but not out of fight. Against the backdrop of a raucous, blue-and-gold-drenched Geodis Park, they'll look to sign off with pride against one of South America's most storied clubs. Spanish midfielder Gerard Garrig24 June 2025a embodies the spirit and determination of the team from Auckland. 'We're gutted after the two losses,' he admitted in the build-up, 'but we know we can do better. We showed that for 60 minutes against Benfica. Now we want to compete for the full 90.' Garriga's words are more than pre-match platitudes. Against Benfica, Auckland held their shape, kept the ball, and even carved out chances. 'We were more confident with the ball,' he said. 'We're a team that's used to playing with the ball in New Zealand and Oceania. Against Bayern, we couldn't get it. But against Benfica, we grew into the game.' Boca Juniors arrive in Nashville with a mountain to climb. They must win, and win big, to have any hope of progressing. With Benfica likely to face a stern test from Bayern Munich, Boca's path to the knockouts hinges on goal difference. Expect Miguel Ángel Russo's side to come out swinging. Garriga knows what's coming. 'They're going to go with everything,' he said. 'They need goals. The challenge is to keep a clean sheet as long as we can, frustrate them with the ball, defend well, help each other. If we do that, we have a lot of possibilities to have a good performance.' Advertisement - scroll to continue reading The atmosphere will be electric. Boca's fans have lit up the tournament with their passion, and Tuesday promises more of the same. Garriga, far from being daunted, is relishing it. 'It's going to be amazing. Thousands of Argentinians, so loud. We have to enjoy it. It might be once in a lifetime.' He believes the occasion could even lift his side. 'It's going to be an extra motivation. We're not used to playing in front of that many people. But it's going to be positive. We're buzzing to be in that game.' For Boca, it's a must-win. For Auckland City FC, it's a must-remember. Garriga summed it up best: 'Compete 90 minutes. That's the goal. If we do that, anything can happen. A draw, maybe even a win. That would be a great way to finish this tournament.' MATCH DETAILS FIFA Club World Cup USA 2025™ Auckland City FC vs Boca Juniors Geodis Park, Nashville, Tennessee KO: Tuesday, 24 June 2025, 4:00PM (Local Time) -Wednesday, 25 June 2025,7:00 AM (NZT) AC SQUAD: 1. Conor TRACEY (GK) 2. Mario ILICH (C) 3. Adam MITCHELL 4. Christian GRAY 5. Nikko BOXALL, 6. Jackson MANUEL 7. Myer BEVAN 8. Gerard GARRIGA 9. Angus KILKOLLY 10. Dylan MANICKUM 11. Ryan DE VRIES 12. Regont MURATI 13. Nathan LOBO 14. Jordan VALE, 15. Jeremy FOO, 16. Joe LEE 17. Jerson LAGOS 18. Sebastian CIGANDA (GK) 19. Dylan CONNOLLY, 20. Matt ELLIS, 21. Adam KANUI BELL 22. Tong ZHOU 23. Alfie ROGERS, 24. Nathan GARROW (GK) 25. Michael DEN HEIJER, 26. David YOO, 27. Haris ZEB.
