Auckland vs Spurs Prediction: Friendly Betting Tips & Odds

Auckland FC and Tottenham Hotspur meet at Eden Park on Sunday afternoon New Zealand time in what is a special occasion for football in this country.

Spurs are in New Zealand for the first time in 50 years, and they’re up against an Auckland side that won their first A-League Championship just two months ago.

In this Auckland FC vs Tottenham preview, I look at what both teams are after and why the Spurs team goals market looks like the play. I’ve got one at $1.75 for those keen to bet on football ahead of the new season.

Auckland FC

Auckland won the A-League Championship in May, beating Sydney FC 1-0 in the final. For a club that played their first competitive match in October 2024, the speed of their success is hard to overstate. Sam Cosgrove finished joint-top scorer with 11 goals during the regular season, and Steve Corica’s side were clinical throughout the finals series after finishing third on the table.

I’d be surprised if they troubled Spurs for long stretches here, though. 

The quality gap between the A-League and the Premier League is enormous, and Auckland haven’t played since May. Their pre-season is geared toward an A-League campaign that doesn’t kick off until October.

In saying that, Eden Park should be close to sold out - that’ll help.

Team News: Auckland are expected to have a full squad available for selection. Corica will rotate throughout the match.

Predicted Lineup: Woud; Sakai, Vicelich, Carey, Pijnaker; Howieson, Bayliss; Gallegos, Brook, Elliott; Cosgrove.

Tottenham

Two consecutive 17th-place Premier League finishes. A near-miss with relegation. Over £200 million spent this summer. Roberto De Zerbi has inherited a club that desperately needs direction, and this tour of New Zealand and Australia is his first real opportunity to work with his men.

Spurs beat MK Dons 1-0 in their opening pre-season friendly last Wednesday. Mateus Fernandes, the £85 million signing from West Ham, volleyed home a cleared corner after three minutes on his debut. Sandro Tonali started in midfield alongside him, and Martin Dubravka got 45 minutes in the second half.

I’m curious about how De Zerbi shapes this midfield. Tonali and Fernandes cost £185 million between them. If they click, Spurs will look completely different next season.

Spurs are missing plenty. Xavi Simons, Dejan Kulusevski and Wilson Odobert are all long-term injury absentees. Pedro Porro, Cristian Romero, Mohamed Kudus and Djed Spence haven’t returned from World Cup duty.

Team News: Simons, Kulusevski and Odobert are long-term absentees. Porro, Romero, Kudus and Spence are still with their national teams. Maddison has recovered from his ACL injury and is expected to feature.

Predicted Lineup: Kinsky; Gray, Van Hecke, Davies, Robertson; Fernandes, Tonali; Yang, Gallagher, Tel; Solanke.

• Auckland haven’t played a competitive match since the A-League final on May 23.
• Spurs haven’t visited New Zealand since 1976.
• Auckland won six of 13 home matches during the 2025-26 A-League regular season.
• Spurs conceded 57 goals in 38 Premier League matches last season.
• De Zerbi’s opening pre-season match against MK Dons produced just one goal.

I’m tipping Spurs, and I don’t think it’ll be particularly close. Pre-season friendlies are unpredictable when both sides are around the same level, but the gap here is too wide for Auckland to bridge, regardless of the occasion.

Even without Romero, Porro and Kudus, Spurs can put out a side featuring Solanke, Maddison, Gallagher and Tel. Any of those dominate an A-League midfield. Auckland will compete early, and the crowd will push them on, but once Spurs settle into possession I can see this getting away from them.

My gut says 3-0 or 3-1. De Zerbi will want to see movement and patterns from his new signings, and I’d expect the intensity to hold for at least 60 minutes before wholesale changes. If you’re browsing NZ betting sites, I’d steer toward the team goals markets rather than the match result for the most value.

Tottenham Over 1.5 Team Goals @ $1.75

Spurs scored inside three minutes against MK Dons with a squad that had barely trained together. The reality is Auckland’s defence wasn’t tested by this level of opposition during the A-League season. 

Solanke, Tel, Maddison and Gallagher should all get at least 45 minutes, and that’s more than enough to score twice against a side that’s been off for two months.

At $1.75, I’m backing Spurs to find the net at least twice. Check the free bets available through New Zealand sites if you’re opening a new account ahead of the Premier League season.