austin111 wrote:
Bayliss to AFC makes a lot of sense for both parties. AFC pick up a very good young kiwi talent for their midfield which currently has aging pros like Gallegos and Brimmer.
Bayliss gets to play for a club in the Foley group which has plenty of high profile games ahead including possibly a World club tournement
Auckland are definitely go to play at least one FIFA Intercontinental Cup game this year against Al-Ahli from Saudi Arabia - winners of the 2025–26 AFC Champions League Elite. They beat Japan's Machida Zelvia 1-0 in the final. After beating another J League side Vissel Kobe in the semis. Both games in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
You can see where those rumours came from that Japan wanted to form an East Asian split from AFC!
Very short odds, Auckland FC will need to travel to Saudi to play Al-Ahli. But at least it will likely be their ALM side, and not their far weaker OFC Pro League squad. You'd give them a 10-20% chance of pulling off an upset. Riyad Mahrez, Édouard Mendy, Ivan Toney and Franck Kessié some of Al-Ahli's bigger names.
You can see where those rumours came from that Japan wanted to form an East Asian split from AFC!
Very short odds, Auckland FC will need to travel to Saudi to play Al-Ahli. But at least it will likely be their ALM side, and not their far weaker OFC Pro League squad. You'd give them a 10-20% chance of pulling off an upset. Riyad Mahrez, Édouard Mendy, Ivan Toney and Franck Kessié some of Al-Ahli's bigger names.
The winner of Auckland FC vs Al-Ahli, plays winners of the 2025–26 CAF Champions League in the Intercontinental Cup 2nd round. Either Sundowns from Sth Africa or FAR Rabat from Morocco.
So yeah some potentially big games for Bayliss or whoever is at AFC next season.
For what it's worth amateur Auckland City lost 3-0 last year in the 1st round to Pyramids FC (CAF champions) in Cairo. Pyramids FC then beating Al-Ahli 3-1 in Jeddah.
Auckland FC might sneak under the radar being confused with that amateur Kiwitea St club.