But despite playing 330 minutes of football over the last ten days, Auckland found the fight to fend off a flurry of second half Cruz Azul attacks and take the match to penalties after it finished 1-1 in regulation time.
It also means another substantial payday for the club, who will bring home an extra $640,000, bringing their prizepool total to a staggering $3.22 million.
Tim Payne, Darren White, James Pritchett and Sanni Issa all scored penalties for Auckland, while John Irving, who has been Auckland's standout player of the tournament, missed after crashing his shot off the cross bar.
But Cruz Azul striker Formica blasted his shot high over the bar, before Auckland goalkeeper Jacob Spoonley saved from Valadez, to hand the Kiwi side the win.
After 90 minutes the two sides couldn't be separated. In the first half Auckland were the better team. They dominated possession, had more shots on goal and pinched the lead on the stroke of halftime through Ryan De Vries.
Auckland striker Emiliano Tade won the ball on halfway and unleashed a pin point 40 yard diagonal ball to find the feet of his attacking partner De Vries. The 23-year old striker, who has recently been linked with an All Whites call up, took the ball at pace past his marker, before slotting home calmly.
But the second half was about hanging on.
Eight of Auckland's starting eleven had played Auckland's full quota of minutes throughout the tournament, and as they tired, Cruz Azul looked more likely.
Auckland conceded in the 56th minute, amidst a barrage of Cruz Azul attacks when Joao Rojas' goal-bound header was saved but parried straight back to him, and he smacked the ball into the net with his second chance.
It looked like it would then be a matter of time before the Mexican champions pinched the winner.
But this Auckland side is made of sterner stuff. They found another level as the match wore on, and even created a great late chance for Tim Payne to win the game.
Auckland made three changes to the starting eleven which had served them so well throughout the tournament. Right back Angel Berlanga, who was suspended for picking up two yellow cards, was replaced by Darren White, while centre back Marko Dordevic was injured in the warmup and replaced by Mario Bilen, while Sam Burfoot came into the middle of midfield.
Spoonley also replaced Tamati Williams in goal.
But it was centreback Irving who held the back line together, and it would be surprising if the Englishman isn't on Phoenix coach Ernie Merrick's Christmas wishlist after a near faultless tournament.
Auckland will now return to New Zealand to prepare for their next match in the ASB Premiership against the Wellington Phoenix reserves on January 11th.
But it remains to be seen how many of their starting eleven will be back at Kiwitea Street, with professional clubs surely interested in some of their exceptional amateur players.
"It was a very difficult game for us, particularly in the second half when we were very tired," said Auckland coach Tribulietx.
"In the first half we played a very good game, had a lot of the ball and were a bit lucky to go ahead in the 46th minute. And then we hung on, but it was fully deserved.
"We have played four games at the Club World Cup and we haven't lost a game after 90 minutes. We only lost to San Lorenzo in extra time.
"To me, the most unbelievable experience was the first game. That was win or die. This is all extra, it's unbelievable. Everyone at the club and in New Zealand must be buzzing. A team from New Zealand is going to get a meda at a FIFA Championship. No one ever expected that to happen."
