NEW YORK, NY — Until next year NYCFC will continue another MLS season at Yankee Stadium, with limited home dates as their $780 million, 25,000-seat soccer specific stadium (Etihad Park) is inaugurated in 2027 across the street from Citi Field. NYCFC will also flip flop boroughs and have limited home games at Citi Field in Queens.
Though, NYCFC is not using the Yankees mojo of “Running It Back.” The Yankees with expectations failed in 2025, I will leave that to a pending baseball preview coming. NYCFC is not using a similar mojo as they close in on 2026 and begin their 11th MLS season, visiting the LA Galaxy in Los Angeles Sunday.
They won’t run it back, NYCFC went beyond expectations in 2025 under first year coach Pascal Jansen, (17-12-5, fifth in East) losing in the conference finals, 5-1 to Inter Miami and Lionel Messi, a late season run for their second MLS Cup.
NYCFC saw their 2025 postseason run come to an end in the Eastern Conference Final last November to Messi and Inter Miami CF, the eventual MLS Cup Champion – Image Credit: Ernesto Diaz/Latino Sports
Much of the roster returns, though losing leading scorer Alonso Martínez to a torn ACL on international duty is significant.
Justin Haak, a team leader, departed via free agency and signed a lucrative deal with the Galaxy. NYCFC signed Kai Trewin, a national player from Australia to replace Haak in the midfield. There has been a limited turnaround to the roster, in the MLS with a brief offseason that is always a good thing.
Regardless they will contend with Columbus, Charlotte, rival Union of Philadelphia, and of course Messi’s Inter Miami in the East, the defending Cup champions. The Galaxy, a franchise with the most MLS Cups, present a first and early test for NYCFC, a team with few veterans and as the coach says players still growing as they move along.
”The team has come in very energetic,” Jansen said. “Every training session so far has satisfied me in a big way. Also, the new kids coming in understand what is demanded of them, and they try to do just that every day.”
As Pascal Jansen enters Year 2 at the helm of NYCFC, he believes last year’s approach worked through chemistry and an established culture – Image Credit: Ernesto Diaz/Latino Sports
There wasn’t much time to pivot with a brief MLS offseason and for NYCFC since their Eastern Conference playoff loss at Miami in November. A painful hiatus that addressed that dismal showing and quest to get their second Cup championship.
A loss and elimination though NYCFC and first year coach Pascal Jansen went beyond expectations. A young and competitive squad with a few veterans that wasn’t projected to reach the final four. Yes, the brief time away from the pitch offered time to regroup and prepare for another run towards a MLS Cup title.
“Our main ingredients within how our culture works and how we work on a daily basis, the word is energy,” said Jansen.
The approach for Jansen last season was chemistry, NYCFC had that strength as a team. The coach was hired with a track record of developing younger players that has continued during the month long pre-season preparation that concluded late last week.
Despite some new faces on the 2026 team with others departing, NYCFC will look to repeat their 2025 postseason run and attempt to go farther this time around – Image Credit: Ernesto Diaz/Latino Sports
Jonathan Shore, a 17-year-old defender, is a year older who had significant playing time after arriving mid season. The team has the addition of Talles Magno, a striker who was on loan. And Maxi Morales returns with experience, solid upfront and reliability when NYCFC needs that impact goal.
To say now that NYCFC will make another run for another MLS Cup is preliminary, time will tell. Like last season, MLS has ups and downs. The league and teams lose key players on loan internationally. NYCFC has had a good ratio of players come and go during the season.
“There were no prizes won at the end of the journey last season,” said Jansen. “So that is something that we’ll try to do better this season. But we’re convinced that we have taken the right road and are heading in the right direction to be successful and stay competitive again this season.”
NYCFC’s 2026 MLS regular season kicks off this Sunday, February 22nd in Los Angeles when they go up against LA Galaxy – Image Credit: Ernesto Diaz/Latino Sports
And they won’t run it back, Jansen has been adamant about not reflecting on that conference loss to Miami. Though his players are focused there has to be that sting of a conference final loss that lingered, that is until they assemble and begin another journey this Sunday.
NYCFC has the talent to make an impact in their conference. The roster has depth and Jansen will provide opportunity when presented. He has that technique of adjusting and inserting players on the pitch. It’s also a matter of staying healthy and scoring, NYCFC was one of the lowest scoring teams last year in conference play but their defense kept teams away from the net.
2026 will mark the final year where NYCFC will be playing games in Yankee Stadium as their new home, Etihad Park, across from Citi Field is in the midst of being built – Image Credit: Ernesto Diaz/Latino Sports
Attribute keeper Matt Freese, with consistency, named a nominee for 2025 Goalkeeper of the Year, earned a contract extension with the club. Etihad Park is quickly coming into form, the players will get a first hand view when they return to Citi Field.
Their fanbase awaits their homecoming Saturday, March 7th at Yankee Stadium against eastern conference opponent Orlando. A season of anticipation and not running it back.
Rich Mancuso is a senior writer and columnist at LatinoSports.com with coverage of MLB, Boxing, and MLS. – X: @Ring786, Facebook.com/Rich Mancuso
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