Boca Juniors faced off against European powerhouse Bayern Munich on Matchday 2 of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025. In a crucial Group C showdown, Miguel Merentiel delivered a brilliant equalizer to bring the Argentine side level.
The matchup between the German champions and Boca had been highly anticipated, especially after Bayern stars like Serge Gnabry and Harry Kane acknowledged how Boca’s passionate fan base could tilt the atmosphere in their favor. Despite the heavily pro-Boca crowd, Bayern struck first.
Following a scramble in the box, Harry Kane capitalized in the 18th minute to give Bayern the early lead. The German side continued to press, but after missing several chances, Boca found their moment to respond.
In the 66th minute, Michael Olise lost possession near the edge of the box, sparking a lightning-fast counterattack. Alan Velasco played a perfectly weighted through ball to Merentiel, who outpaced Jonathan Tah, slipped past Josip Stanisic with a deft touch, and calmly beat Manuel Neuer to tie the match.
First full-capacity crowd of the tournament
The FIFA Club World Cup 2025 has captured global attention, pitting Europe’s elite against top clubs from around the world. However, attendance has been a point of debate, with some matches drawing crowds over 60,000 while others struggled to attract even 5,000 spectators.
But Boca Juniors and Bayern Munich reached a milestone, delivering the tournament’s first sold-out match. A total of 63,587 fans—most of them Boca supporters—packed Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium, with the venue officially announcing a “full house” on the stadium screens.
