NY Soccer Journal

First “NYCFC playoff elimination scenario” of the year just dropped. Win vs Atlanta tomorrow at Citi Field or face a possible season-ending result from the Red Bulls or the Crew

The 3 minutes leading up to that Talles Magno PK miss in Orlando underscored much of what’s gone wrong with this NYCFC team: Bizarre in-game decisions, self-inflicted wounds, questionable leadership, unsuccessful roster building, all apparent in one sequence

USL has big ambitions, a new first division men’s league and promotion and relegation on the horizon, but the current state of the local NY-area teams ain’t pretty. Reflecting on the tough seasons and situations of Westchester (RIP?), Brooklyn, the Cosmos

This year’s NYCFC did manage to win 3 in a row once this season (in early March), which they’ll have to do again if they want any hope of playing beyond Decision Day. Bigger issue is they’ve had 5 different winless streaks of 3 or more matches; stuck in a 6-gamer right now as the end nears

Puff puff pass the xG (and watch the playoffs go up in smoke with another non-win)

Eventful one with Alonso Martínez back on the scoresheet for first time since November '25, Matt Freese becoming the latest injured NYCFC regular, Griezmann + Ojeda carrying Orlando, a bizarre NYCFC PK situation, and a 99th minute equalizer. A lot, but also not enough in the playoff race

People will mention the Gudi Thorarinsson equalizer from 2021 in Atlanta as it relates to Jonny Shore’s equalizer tonight, but that 2021 team already had 40 points and had 4 games remaining when Gudi scored it (plus they were simply better than the 2026 team)

NYCFC hasn’t lost to Orlando across 8 head to head meetings going back to 2022, now desperately needs that streak to extend when they play a rejuvenated OCSC squad that’s been among the hottest teams in MLS since the World Cup ended and since Antoine Griezmann showed up. Preview of ORLvNYC ⬇️

“If trouble erupts elsewhere in the network, can the damage really be contained to where it happened?” Interesting piece on the Australian arm of the City Football Group empire and what the Man City scandal could mean down under www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer...

Antoine Griezmann's arrival rejuvenated Orlando City, but @themaneland.bsky.social's Ben Miller says Maxime Crépeau in goal is the X-factor when NYCFC plays Orlando because that Lions defense still has its fair share of problems. @matthewmangam.bsky.social with more Orlando City scouting notes

This is the first year since 2018 and only the 2nd time in team history that NYCFC had no players make the MLS 22 Under 22 list. Piece on the leaps not taken and opportunities missing for the “next generation” of young player on the 2026 roster

Happy US Open Cup final day! @battista.bsky.social previews the #USOC2026 decider in Columbus between the Crew & St. Louis City, and catches you up on the next step for 8 local amateur teams trying to qualify for 2027 tournament. www.nysoccerjournal.com/us-open-cup-... cc: @stlouligans.bsky.social

Gotham’s loss to Washington and San Diego’s long winning streak has made the NWSL Shield race extra spicy with 2 matches to go. Laid out all the Gotham-centric Shield scenarios, with 2 wins meaning the Shield, a win plus a draw putting must-win pressure on San Diego, plus plenty more possibilities

Let @thepigeonsnycfc.bsky.social take you inside Etihad Park as it looks more soccer-ready by the day, though with the long-awaited NYCFC stadium getting its finishing touches at what’s turned into a turbulent time for the club. A stadium progress report with photos aplenty

Another draw isn't going to get it done for NYCFC, and they were lucky to finish 1-1 with LAFC given Son came inches away from a stoppage time winner. @matthewmangam.bsky.social with more on the tie in Queens, NYC's lousy home record, Andrés Perea's equalizer

Just the 5th time NYCFC and LAFC will have ever played, and it arrives while NYC is a till searching for a win at Citi Field after 6 played there without one, part of a bigger problem with home form that’s plagued NYC all season long. Preview of the Son/Bouanga Show’s trip to Queens

"What's going on with LAFC?" is the big question amidst a season of coaching changes, dips in output from Son and Bouanga, and some costly roster turnover. Ahead of their trip to face NYCFC, @matthewmangam.bsky.social got more LAFC intel from @angelsonparade.bsky.social’s @trebtracy.bsky.social

Excellent details on a special player - one of the very few girls to compete in MLS Next w/ on the NYCFC U15 boys.

The U17 Women’s World Cup kicks off tomorrow and NYCFC will be represented on the United States U17 squad by 15-year-old phenom Loradana Paletta, whose meteoric rise for club and country has continued in 2026. More on her path to this World Cup, her huge successes at, again, age 15(!)

Don Garber wants to draw a clear line between MLS's business with City Football Group and CFG's business in England (ie, the Man City charges), but it’s not that easy, especially while CFG CEO Ferran Soriano sits on influential MLS committees and gets mentioned as a candidate for MLS commissioner

The Crest Cup is here. US Soccer's newest tournament will be the first time #NWSL and USL Super League teams face off competitively. A Gotham FC vs Brooklyn FC derby is on the table, but not everyone in women's soccer is invited. More on @nysoccerjournal.com: www.nysoccerjournal.com/crest-cup-us...

Now just one win from 12 MLS matches played for New York City FC as their season continued to unravel at Nu Stadium, with 2 defensive lapses punished by Inter Miami, and with none of NYCFC's attacking talent able to make any difference despite a few good chances. It's getting late early, as they say

Left side of that NYCFC defense: flat footed, slow to react, not marking people, a collection of things you cannot get away with doing against Miami. Nico Cavallo got yanked at HT last match but is right back in there and uh, not a great start

Crest Cup is coming, at a date still to be determined, but with NWSL and Gainbridge Super League teams set to compete for a $1.1 million prize and an automatic spot in the Concacaf W Champions Cup. @battista.bsky.social on the new tournament, the prospect of some Gotham vs Brooklyn derbies

STEP CLOSER TO A FULL ON WOMEN'S US OPEN CUP LETS GO! GIVE ME BROOKLYN FC VS GOTHAM FC ON A COLD, WINDY DAY ON CONEY ISLAND!

Curse of the International Break? Injury luck has very much *not* been on Gotham's side in recent weeks, as they now have to spend the rest of the season with no Jordynn Dudley or Bruninha, while holding breath over Jaedyn Shaw's "minor" injury in US U23 camp

▪️USL League One Rivalries: NY Cosmos vs Westchester SC ▪️The USL League One regular season has just a few weeks left - Cosmos and Westchester SC had one more fixture between them and photographer Nico Sirianni was there to capture the rivalry game. www.protagonistsoccer.com/coverage/usl...

Before NYCFC visits Nu Stadium for the first time ever, we’ve got some scouting notes on the current state of Inter Miami: Early impressions of new coach Kily González, Casemiro’s surprising fit as a centerback, Luis Suárez refusing to stop tormenting defenses at 39

Things come in 3s and that includes self-inflicted NYCFC errors to drop points. The Matt Freese giveaway in Chicago joined Tomás Romero’s non-save in Atlanta, James Sands’ mishit pass vs RBNY. More on the mistake trend, Freese’s shakiness post-World Cup

If you needed to catch up on any of the mess NYCFC made at Soldier Field this afternoon, that’s covered here. Alonso Martínez made an early positive impact, Hannes Wolf broke a goalless drought, then it all went down in flames after halftime vs the Fire

NYCFC head coach Pascal Jansen with some very choice words regarding the team’s second half performance. “You see a pattern on pitch where people back down, they don't challenge maximum.”

They'd lost 5 other matches in which an opponent saw a red card, but had not lost from a winning position while up a man until today. Closest they'd come was being up a goal, up a man, then settling for a draw: 2/22/25 at Miami, 7/8/23 at Columbus, 3/8/15 at Orlando (1st match ever!)

Can’t say “it’s over” for New York City since 60% of MLS teams qualify, but… #NYCFC

Has there been a less impressive half of soccer played by a team with an 11v10 advantage than this absolute turd dropped by NYCFC in Chicago? Awful Freese gaffe in possession gifting the Fire a lead just a cherry atop the sundae

Have not been able to tell that NYCFC has been playing with an 11v10 advantage, complete opposite of “play with urgency and close out a much-needed win” happening since halftime. No shots on target, 2 speculative shot attempts since D’Avilla got sent off, brutal

1 goal advantage, now 1 player advantage for NYCFC as D’Avilla sees a second yellow for a late challenge on Sands. This went from a “hey nice, early lead on the road” to a “this is a must-get-all-3-points” scenario for NYC…

Last time Hannes Wolf scored prior to that beauty, it was part of a Mother’s Day hat trick, so the tidy finish vs the Fire ended a span of 13 goalless appearances 🐺 🇦🇹

Alonso Martínez gets his first start for NYCFC post ACL, last time in the XI was November 7, 2025 at Charlotte in playoffs. He’s loved life vs the Fire and he’s training without limitations again, too www.nysoccerjournal.com/nycfc-vs-chi...

To be fair, Gio Savarese knows a thing or two about losing cup finals in penalty kicks. #NYCFC

Crunch time resumes for NYCFC as the return from the international break in Chicago starts a 3-match week against a trio of very tough teams. Preview of the meeting with the Fire, including notes on Alonso Martínez, NYC’s crazy H2H success vs CHI, a few injury updates

Mbekezeli Mbokazi is back, Robert Lewandowski is fitting in seamlessly, and now Chicago has eyes on finishing as high as 2nd in the East. Before NYCFC tries to douse the Fire at Soldier Field, @matthewmangam.bsky.social asked @joechatz.bsky.social for some more intel on the Fire

THE MAGIC OF THE US OPEN CUP

If it wasn't for the 20-1 win or New Amsterdam return, this match might have been the most talked about of the 2027 US Open Cup Second Qualifying Round. A must-read from @battista.bsky.social detailing the chaos of SC Vistula Garfield beating FC Motown on a rainy New Jersey night. #USOC2027

On Saturday, SC Vistula Garfield beat FC Motown in a 2027 US Open Cup Qualifying match that needs to discussed. It included; broken nets, concussions, a red card comeback, & more. A plea, you need to read about this #USOC2027 match on @nysoccerjournal.com: www.nysoccerjournal.com/sc-vistula-g...

When talking about "The Magic of the US Open Cup," this is Exhibit A, a bonkers qualifier between 2 amateur teams in NJ that had a blackout, multiple red cards, a 43-year-old player-coach scoring, + plenty more. An epic Open Cup saga from @battista.bsky.social www.nysoccerjournal.com/sc-vistula-g...

Not the busiest of FIFA windows for NYCFC’s senior national team call-ups. 62 combined minutes played in three total appearances made by Matt Freese, Aiden O’Neill, Tayvon Gray during the international break, so they should be coming back fresh for the big MLS matches still to come

Felt like 2 points dropped but Gotham couldn’t complain too much given they put 1 shot on target (Jaedyn Shaw’s goal) and survived a few great chances from Angel City before the 90+1 equalizer. More on a 1-1 that made it 12 straight unbeaten at home for Gotham and guaranteed a home playoff game

Scenes from Friday night’s Colombia-Paraguay friendly in Harrison, NJ, as a pair of Conmebol’s World Cup reps played in front of a midsized crowd at Sports Illustrated Stadium. Fuller match gallery here: www.nysoccerjournal.com/colombia-vs-...

Jamaica played & won in El Salvador last night in Concacaf Nations League, but Tayvon Gray was one of 5 players to drop out of the squad beforehand for “injuries or personal reasons.” Specific reason for his exit is not clear, though Gray got 0 minutes of playing time in the window’s first 2 matches

Here is our team led by Head Coach Toure Weaver for the 2nd Qualifying Rounf of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. We play SC Vistula Garfield on Sunday, October 4th with kickoff set for 7:00 PM away at Garfield High School. #USOC2027 #NPSL @opencup.ussoccer.com @thecup.us @nysoccerjournal.com