Football: Auckland City FC's $2.5 million payday

Auckland City FC players celebrate their quarter-final win. Photo / AP

Auckland City players stun football world by nailing semifinal spot and big bonus.

The amateurs of Auckland City FC are in the money after a second major upset at the Fifa Club World Cup in Morocco yesterday.

The side's 1-0 quarter-final defeat of African champions ES Setif of Algeria booked the men from Kiwitea St a spot in the semifinals, doubling their prize money in the process.

They will take home at least $2.57 million in prize money from the tournament, which will rise to $5.14 million if they win Thursday's semifinal against Argentine giants San Lorenzo.

The winning team in the competition - featuring the club champions of every continent - is awarded $6.43 million.

Auckland City are making their sixth appearance at the tournament, with their previous best finish coming in 2009, when they managed fifth after defeating UAE side Al Ahli and African champions TP Mazembe of the Democratic Republic of Congo. On that occasion the side was awarded US$1.5 million in prize money.

It is not known what the players' cut is this time around, but in 2009 they divvied up 40 per cent of the club's winning share.

New Zealand Football high performance manager Fred de Jong told RadioSport the secured payday of $2.57 million would be shared around the football community."About 50 per cent will go to Auckland City and the other 50 per cent gets split among the other franchises in the ASB Premiership [national league]. We've always had that rule."

How big is Auckland City's success? Click here for more information.

What is the Club World Cup?
*The champion club side from each of Fifa's six confederations (and the host nation's national champions) compete in a knockout tournament over two weeks to find the best club side in the world.
*Other semifinalists include European champions Real Madrid, who feature the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, James Rodriguez and Gareth Bale.
*Auckland City have appeared at the tournament six times and their best previous finish came in 2009 when they beat local UAE champions AL Ahli and African champions TP Mazembe to finish fifth.
*The winning side is awarded $6.43 million.