Auckland City proud to be at CWC despite possible deficit
dpa
Berlin
Auckland City face a financial deficit at the Club World Cup but are immensely proud to be represented at the new-look tournament in the United States.
The only amateur club among the 32 teams receives around $3.6 in appearance fee from the overall tournament prize money of $1 billion.
The sum is only around one-tenth of what their first opponents Bayern Munich get. That match is on Sunday, with Argentina's Boca Juniors and Lisbon club Benfica the other opponents.
Victories will lead to additional prize money but they are rather unlikely for the New Zealand part timers who face a deficit because most of the appearance fee goes to the domestic federation which distributes it among the domestic league clubs.
But the chance of playing at the global stage by far outweighs the financial aspect, with striker Ryan de Vries speaking of 'an unbelievable opportunity to represent our country and region.'
Auckland created an upset at the 2014 edition when they finished a surprise third from seven teams, beating Morocco's Moghreb Tetouan in a play-off, Algeria's ES Setif in the quarter-finals and Cruz Azul of Mexico in the match for third place.
'Football gives you an opportunity to achieve so many things individually and as a team which you thought were impossible,' De Vries said.
Players had to take unpaid leave from their jobs 11 years ago becauzse no one expected the success run. With the tournament now expanded, players must use their annual holiday or decide between their job and football.
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