On Tuesday afternoon, Matchday 3 action in Group C of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 was underway. Two matches were being played simultaneously: Bayern Munich vs Benfica and Boca Juniors vs Auckland City. The latter was level at 1-1 early in the second half when it was abruptly suspended.
In the 53rd minute, referee Glenn Nyberg instructed players from both teams—as well as substitutes and coaching staff members—to leave the field and head to the locker rooms due to severe weather conditions: a lightning storm in Nashville, Tennessee that posed a safety risk to the players.
This was a crucial match for the Argentine side’s hopes of advancing. They had drawn 2-2 in their opening match against Benfica and then lost to Bayern Munich, so they needed a win to keep their chances of qualification alive—though that alone wouldn’t have been enough.
They also needed help from Bayern Munich, who had to beat Benfica for Boca to draw level with the Portuguese side at 4 points in the Group C standings. In that scenario, goal difference and goals scored would have served as the tiebreakers. However, none of that came to pass. While the match in Nashville remained paused, Benfica secured a win over Bayern Munich and clinched a spot in the Round of 16 as group leaders, relegating the German side to second.
Players from Auckland City FC and CA Boca Juniors exit the pitch following a weather delay in the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 group C
Boca Juniors and Auckland City return to action
After almost an hour of suspension, weather conditions improved and, with confirmation that there was no longer a safety risk to the players, referee Nyberg signaled for both teams to return to the pitch to complete the remaining minutes of the match. However, the tension on the field was noticeably different, as Boca Juniors now knew they had been eliminated from the tournament.
see also
FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Group C standings: Updated table with Bayern Munich, Benfica, Boca, and Auckland City in Matchday 3
This isn’t the first match suspended at the Club World Cup
In addition to Tuesday’s Boca Juniors vs Auckland City match, three other FIFA Club World Cup games have faced similar interruptions in recent days. Interestingly, one of them also involved the New Zealand side.
Last Friday, Auckland City were trailing 1-0 against Benfica during Matchday 2 of Group C when the start of the second half was delayed at Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando, Florida, due to the same weather conditions. The teams eventually returned to the field, and the Portuguese side went on to win 6-0.
Before that, a similar situation occurred during Red Bull Salzburg vs Pachuca on Matchday 1 of Group B, held June 18 at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio. And just one day later, the same issue arose in Palmeiras vs Al Ahly during Matchday 2 of Group A on June 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
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