Club World Cup: Bayern Munich aims to start the season with a title
by Thobelani Moyo | by Thobelani Moyo
Bayern Munich is back in the FIFA Club World Cup
After wrapping up the 2024-25 Bundesliga season with a 33rd title, Bayern Munich showed the world why they are the most predominant team in German football.
The Bavarians now have the chance to cement their status as a dominant force once again, this time in the FIFA Club World Cup that is being held in the United States. They are one of 32 teams that have managed to secure their ticket in the revamped competition.
However, don't mistake Vincent Kompany's men for newbies in the FIFA Club World Cup, as this marks their third appearance. Their debut came in 2013, and they wasted no time by impressing on their first attempt, securing their first crown. Seven years after that triumph, they repeated the same feat to make it two trophies.
How the Bavarians got to the FIFA Club World Cup
As mentioned above, this is Bayern Munich's third appearance in the FIFA Club World Cup. In the previous two editions, for them to participate in the competition, they were ranked based on their performance in the UEFA Champions League, which meant winning the prestigious trophy.
This goes to explain the seven - and three-year gaps during which the Bavarians were not included in the FIFA Club World Cup. However, things have now changed as the old system has been scrapped, bringing in a new one that caters to almost all the teams around the world.
The question remains: How were they able to cut through this year's competition?
The Bavarians secured their ticket in this year's competition thanks to their performance in the UEFA Champions League, where they've been consistent contenders over the last four years.
To further differentiate between the old and the new system in the FIFA Club World Cup, we have made a table of comparison below:
| Category | Old Format | New Format |
|---|---|---|
| Teams | 7 | 32 |
| Frequency | Every year | Every 4 years |
| Format | Knockouts | Group stages + Knockouts |
| Entry Point | Late entry from top teams | All teams start from the group stages |
The Bavarians competition
Bayern Munich are placed in Group C, and the competition in this group is modest. They are set to compete with the likes of Auckland City, Benfica, and Boca Juniors.
This Sunday, they play their first match in the FIFA Club World Cup against minnows Auckland City. Check out our Bayern Munich vs Auckland City preview for betting insights.
Let's have a look at their schedule in this competition:
- June 15: vs Auckland City
- June 21: vs Boca Juniors
- June 24: vs Benfica
Key Players To Watch
Harry Kane: Kane comes into this competition eyeing a top goalscorer accolade. He was very influential for Bayern Munich in the 2024-25 Bundesliga season, scoring 26 goals and leading his team to their 33rd Bundesliga crown.
Jamal Musiala: The 22-year-old attacking midfielder was involved in 14 goal involvements in the 2024-25 Bundesliga season for Bayern Munich, scoring 12 goals and providing two assists.
Michael Olise: Olise is another name to watch out for in this competition. The winger made his debut for Bayern Munich in the 2024-25 Bundesliga season, and he did not fail to impress. In his 34 appearances, he scored 12 goals and made 15 assists.
Squad Depth: Who is included in the roster?
Head coach Vincent Kompany's traveling roster for the FIFA Club World Cup includes 29 players. There were some expectations that Kompany was going to go with a B-team for the first match against Auckland City, but that won't be the case anymore.
The 29-man traveling roster includes:
Goalkeepers: Manuel Neuer, Jonas Urbig, Daniel Peretz, and Leon Klanac.
Defenders: Jonathan Tah, Josip Stanic, Dayot Upamecano, Raphael Guerreiro, Cassiano Kiala, Sacha Boey, and Kim Min-Jae.
Midfielders: Jamal Musiala, Leon Goretzka, Konrad Laimer, Joao Palhinha, Joshua Kimmich, Tom Bischof, Lennart Karl, Aleksandar Pavlovic, and David Santos Daiber.
Forwards: Harry Kane, Serge Gnabry, Leroy Sane, Jonah Kusi-Asare, Kingsley Coman, Thomas Muller, Maurice Krattenmacher, Jonah Kusi-Asare, and Michael Olise.
From the list provided above, we can see that there are two new names that have been added to the squad, which include Jonathan Tah and Tom Bischof. Both players were signed from Bayer Leverkusen as free agents.
