Football: Auckland City carry Moroccan reverence on World Cup campaign

Auckland City starts by playing Moghreb on December 11.

As unlikely as it seems, Auckland City FC are becoming "world famous" in Morocco.

It's not uncommon with New Zealand sporting teams, as you don't realise how they are regarded until leaving these shores.

Auckland City, still essentially an amateur team, turned heads in Morocco at last year's Fifa Club World Cup.

The New Zealand side pushed Raja Casablanca to the limit and were moments away from extra time before the Green Eagles scored their late, late goal (93rd minute).

At yesterday's draw in Marrakesh for the 2014 edition, it was clear the returning Oceania champions had earned a new level of respect.

"Last year they were the big surprise for many Moroccans," said one local journalist.

"Raja Casablanca expected to win by four or five goals and people here mainly associated New Zealand with rugby. Auckland City changed a lot of perceptions with that performance."

This year Auckland City will face Moghreb Athletic Tetouan in their first game. The winner of that knockout match will meet the African champions (still to be determined) and beyond that a possible semifinal encounter with 2014 Copa Libertadores winner San Lorenzo of Argentina.

"Auckland City were very strong last year," said Moghreb President Abdelmalik Abroun.

"They were well organised with good structure and worked so hard. This will be a difficult game to win."

MAT will also be grappling with huge - and potentially crippling - expectation.

"The mission is very hard for us," admits Abroun. "Everyone in Morocco is expecting that we will make the final at least after what happened last year. That is a lot of pressure to deal with."

On the other hand, defeat will simply not be tolerated in the football mad nation.

"Of course, we expect to win," he added. "We are in Morocco, in our country, with our public ... it is not permitted for us to lose the first game."

Yesterday was Auckland City's day in the sun at the glitzy draw. At the outset they were mentioned in the same breath as Real Madrid - as one of only two clubs in this year's tournament with previous experience in the competition.

Apart from the local media, the event drew sizeable press contingents from Argentina, Mexico and Spain, who all had an opinion on the underdogs from down under.

"Anybody who makes it to this competition needs to be respected," said Mexican journalist Salvador Aguilera.

Auckland City will play Moghreb on December 11 (NZT) in Rabat. The final of the competition is 10 days later in Marrakesh.