From Pool Cleaner to Club World Cup Star: The Incredible Story of Auckland City's Giants!

The 2025 Club World Cup has given us one of those inspiring tales that remind us of football's true essence. The humble Auckland City squad from New Zealand pulled off a real million-dollar feat by facing a giant like Boca Juniors. Beyond the result on the field, this experience has been life-changing for its players, who, with modest salaries and everyday jobs, saw the magic of international football catapult them to an unimaginable stage.

The contrast is stark: while big clubs move millions, Auckland City players work part-time jobs to make ends meet. One of the most striking cases is that of the substitute goalkeeper, Sebastián Ciganda, whose confession after the match put the magnitude of this opportunity into perspective: "I clean swimming pools and jacuzzis. I asked for vacation from work, or else I would have quit. I didn't get paid for the days we were in the United States," Ciganda revealed in an interview with DSports Radio. Despite not getting paid during the tournament, the joy is immense: "The prize money will be shared among all the staff and the squad," he celebrated. This is the story of how football can take you from cleaning pools to playing against Boca in a World Cup.

The Stark Contrast: From Everyday Life to the World Stage

The reality of Auckland City's players is completely different from that of stars from clubs like Boca Juniors or PSG.

• Modest Salaries and Part-Time Jobs: Most Auckland City players don't live solely from football. Their weekly earnings, of just 84 euros, force them to have complementary jobs. They are teachers, shop assistants, office workers, and, as in Ciganda's case, pool cleaners. This reality highlights the amateur spirit that still exists in certain corners of football.
• The Huge Economic Gap: The prize money for participating in this tournament is 11,111 times more than what each player earns weekly, a truly impactful figure. For them, it's not just a sports competition; it's an economic opportunity that can change their families' lives.
• Personal Sacrifice for the Dream: Sebastián Ciganda's testimony is a moving example. He had to ask for "vacation or else I would have quit" his job to be in the Club World Cup. These kinds of personal sacrifices are the norm for footballers pursuing a dream that goes beyond money, but now, fortunately, it also comes with a financial reward.

The Feat on the Field: Beyond the Scoreboard

Although the final result against Boca was (we assume a loss, given the context of a "feat" of simply playing against them and the difference between the two clubs), the true victory for Auckland City lies in having reached this stage and having competed.

• David vs. Goliath: Facing a club with the history, budget, and squad of Boca Juniors is, in itself, an achievement. For Auckland City, every minute on the field against a South American giant is a moral victory and an invaluable experience.
• Gaining Visibility and Respect: Beyond the points, participating in the Club World Cup and playing against world-renowned teams gives them unprecedented visibility. This kind of exposure can open professional doors for some of their players, or even for the club itself.
• The Pride of Representing Their Club and Country: For Auckland City, the tournament is an opportunity to represent New Zealand and the Oceania region on the global football stage. It is a source of immense pride for their players and their community.

How Auckland City plans to use the prize money is a testament to the team's unity and spirit.

• "It Will Be Shared Among All the Staff and the Squad": Ciganda's statement about sharing the prize money demonstrates a strong team culture. It's not just for the players but for everyone who makes the club's existence and success possible, from the coaching staff to support personnel. This gesture of camaraderie is inspiring.
• A Boost for the Club: The financial prize will not only individually benefit the players and staff; it will also serve as a vital financial boost for Auckland City, allowing them to invest in infrastructure, talent development, or simply ensure the club's stability in the future.
• Stories to Tell: For the players, this experience and the associated prize are not only economically important but also for the stories they will tell. Having played against world-class figures and being part of a "million-dollar feat" is something they will cherish forever.

The Club World Cup, with its glamour and millions, sometimes makes us forget the realities of clubs like Auckland City. But it is precisely these stories of passion, sacrifice, and humility that give football its soul. The adventure of Sebastián Ciganda, the pool cleaner who played against Boca, and that of his entire team, is a reminder that, in sports, heart and determination can take you to places you never imagined. And that, sometimes, a draw or a dignified loss against a giant can feel like the greatest victory.