nah It's a scheduling issue. National League doesn't stop for the international break so they have a game on next weekend
But Auckland City also didn't play Auckland FC, during what is a long ALM preseason.
City have been NZ's dominant domestic club for over a decade. You'd think they are the one local club side AFC would really want to play. Most of their friendlies against Northern Region clubs have been scheduled midweek.
You can't tell me City's Ivan Vuksich wasn't at least a little bit miffed, that he has been completely overlooked for any role with Auckland's new A League club.