FC Bayern vs. Auckland City – Sarpreet Singh on football in New Zealand

When FC Bayern take on Auckland City in the FIFA Club World Cup on Sunday, for one man, it'll be more than just a game: for Sarpreet Singh, the first Kiwi to pull on a Bayern jersey, it'll be a clash that will bring back a host of memories. In an interview with fcbayern.com, Singh reflects on his time in Munich, talks about Auckland's top scorer and discusses the football revolution taking place in New Zealand.

Singh: ‘A dream come true’

In the summer of 2019, Singh moved from Wellington Phoenix to FC Bayern. He celebrated the third division championship with the reserves and made two Bundesliga appearances for the first team. "I just lived in the moment. I know today that it was a huge honour – for me and also for my family," says Singh. The fact that he was the first Kiwi and the first player with Indian roots to pull on a Bayern jersey still fills him with pride to this day. "It's something you can only dream of."

After spells at Nürnberg, Regensburg and Rostock, Singh fought his way back despite numerous injuries and was a first-choice player for União de Leiria in Portugal's second tier last season.

Football instead of rugby: New Zealand discovers the round ball

Singh crowned his comeback to the New Zealand national team after participating in the 2024 Summer Olympics last March by qualifying for the 2026 World Cup. "We don't just want to defend, we want to impress with our ability to play football – and we're getting better and better at that," says the attacking player about the All Whites' style of play.

Even beyond the national team, something is changing in New Zealand football. "Of course, rugby remains dominant. But there are more and more children playing football and being encouraged to do so," says Singh. Alongside the Kiwi's former club Wellington Phoenix, a second New Zealand club, Auckland, has also been playing in the Australian A-League since 2024. This too shows that the professionalisation of football in New Zealand is continuing apace.

Auckland City – the FC Bayern of New Zealand

Auckland City are the team to beat in the domestic league. "They're well organised, comfortable in possession and play bold, attacking football. They have a clear plan," says Singh, praising the ten-time New Zealand champions. They also have an impressive record in the OFC Champions League. Their haul of 13 titles - the last four in a row - make Auckland City the record champions there too.

Auckland City may not be a household name in global football, but they are record appearance-makers in the Club World Cup. The Kiwis are participating in the global tournament for the 13th time. In 2014, they celebrated their greatest success to date with a third-place finish.

Auckland’s top striker Myer Bevan

Captain Mario Ilich, centre-back Adam Mitchell and, above all, Myer Bevan are among the crop of current key players. The striker scored a brace in the final of the Oceania Champions League to secure the title for Auckland and is also the Kiwis' top scorer this season. In the 2017/18 campaign, he was under contract at Vancouver alongside Alphonso Davies. Singh knows Bevan from the national team: "He’s a prolific striker – you have to keep an eye on him."

Singh: ‘It's really crazy!’

Now that FC Bayern are about to take on a New Zealand team in a competitive match for the first time, Singh is also eagerly looking forward to the game: "They're playing against one of the best teams in the world – it's really crazy. A lot of people will be watching. I'll be following the game with huge interest – also because I have many friends in both teams."