New York City
New York City Football Club is an American professional soccer club based in New York City that competes in Major League Soccer as a member of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 2013 and beginning play in 2015, the club plays its home games primarily at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, with some matches at Citi Field in Queens. New York City FC is owned by City Football Group and has achieved significant success, winning the 2021 MLS Cup and the 2022 Campeones Cup, becoming the first New York-based club to win an international trophy.
History
Overview
General information about the club
New York City FC was officially announced as Major League Soccer's 20th franchise on May 21, 2013, after Manchester City and the New York Yankees paid the $100 million expansion fee. The club is owned by City Football Group, a subsidiary of the Abu Dhabi United Group, with minority stakes held by Yankee Global Enterprises and investor Marcelo Claure. Since beginning play in 2015, the club has primarily used Yankee Stadium as its home venue, though it has also played matches at Citi Field and various alternative venues when scheduling conflicts arise.
Most recent season and achievements
In the 2024 season, New York City FC returned to playoff success after missing the postseason in 2023. Despite spending over $20 million on new players including Jovan Mijatović and Agustín Ojeda, the club finished 6th in the Eastern Conference. They defeated FC Cincinnati on penalties in the first round of playoffs before losing to the New York Red Bulls 0-2 in the Eastern Conference semifinals, marking the first postseason Hudson River Derby. Following the season-ending loss, head coach Nick Cushing was dismissed and replaced by Dutch-English manager Pascal Jansen.
History
Early years
Major League Soccer's interest in a second New York area team began in 2006, following the expiry of MetroStars' exclusive territorial rights. By 2007, the league held talks with several groups, including New York Mets owner Fred Wilpon, though his interest faded after losses in the Madoff investment scandal. In 2010, MLS commissioner Don Garber officially announced the league's intent to make its 20th franchise a second team in the New York area, initially hoping to begin operations by 2013.
After a failed bid for a Miami expansion team led by Barcelona, Garber reached out to Ferran Soriano, who had become Manchester City CEO. In December 2012, reports emerged that Manchester City were close to being announced as the new owners. The team was officially announced on May 21, 2013, with Claudio Reyna named as director of football operations on May 22. Jason Kreis was announced as the first head coach on December 11, 2013.
The club made significant signings before their inaugural season, including Spanish striker David Villa as their first player, former England international Frank Lampard, and Italian legend Andrea Pirlo as their three Designated Players.
Successful period
Under head coach Patrick Vieira, who replaced Kreis after the disappointing inaugural season, New York City FC experienced remarkable success from 2016-2018. The club adopted a free-flowing, attacking style that earned widespread praise. In 2016, they qualified for the playoffs for the first time, with Villa becoming league MVP after scoring 23 goals. The 2017 season saw them finish as runners-up for the Supporters' Shield with a record 57 points.
The club continued to build competitively, making significant roster additions including Argentine midfielder Maximiliano Moralez and promoting homegrown talent. However, playoff success remained elusive, with the team repeatedly falling in the conference semifinals despite strong regular season performances.
Crisis and recovery
The period from 2018-2020 was marked by significant transitions and disappointments. Vieira departed mid-season in 2018 to coach Nice, replaced by Domènec Torrent. The club continued to struggle in the playoffs despite regular season success, including finishing atop the Eastern Conference in 2019 only to fall to Toronto FC in the playoffs.
The 2020 season brought additional challenges with the COVID-19 pandemic. Under new head coach Ronny Deila, the club made their CONCACAF Champions League debut, reaching the quarter-finals, but failed to advance past the first round of MLS playoffs. For the first time in 2023, the club missed the playoffs entirely, finishing 11th in the conference after a disastrous stretch of only 2 wins in 21 matches between April and August.
Current period
The 2021 season marked a historic breakthrough for New York City FC. After struggling through much of the regular season and nearly missing the playoffs, the team found form at the crucial moment. Led by Golden Boot winner Valentín Castellanos with 19 goals, they defeated Atlanta United FC, New England Revolution in a dramatic penalty shootout, and the Philadelphia Union to reach their first MLS Cup final.
In the final against Portland Timbers, New York City FC prevailed 4-2 in a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw, with goalkeeper Sean Johnson making crucial saves. This victory marked the first MLS championship for a New York region team and the first title for a New York sports franchise since the New York Giants won Super Bowl XLVI.
The club's success continued in 2022 when they defeated Mexican side Atlas to win the Campeones Cup, becoming the first New York-based club to win an international trophy. However, the championship squad began to disperse, with key departures including head coach Deila and star striker Castellanos.
Achievements and Honors
Domestic competitions
New York City FC has achieved significant success in Major League Soccer competitions. The club's crowning achievement came in 2021 when they won their first MLS Cup, defeating the Portland Timbers 4-2 in a penalty shootout. They have been runners-up for the Supporters' Shield twice, in 2017 and 2019, and won the Eastern Conference regular season title in 2019. The club has also reached the Eastern Conference final twice, winning in 2021 and finishing as runners-up in 2022.
Continental and global competitions
In international competition, New York City FC made history by winning the 2022 Campeones Cup, defeating Mexican club Atlas to become the first New York-based club to win an international trophy. The club has also participated in the CONCACAF Champions League multiple times, reaching the semifinals in 2022 where they were defeated by the Seattle Sounders.
Symbols and Colors
Current logo and logo history
The team initially launched without official colors or a badge, using only a placeholder blue circle with "New York City FC" in Helvetica font. In November 2013, Manchester City FC hired Rafael Esquer of New York-based Alfalfa Studio to create the badge and brand guidelines. After producing over 200 badge sketches, Esquer presented his top 5 designs to the client team.
The club launched a "Badge of Badges" campaign in February 2014, inviting fans to create their own crests. Two final badge options were revealed on March 10, 2014: one incorporating the shield from the city's seal, and a circular badge inspired by subway token design. Both were created by Esquer. Over 100,000 votes were cast, and the circular design was announced as the winner on March 20, 2014.
The badge shape evokes a New York City Subway token, featuring the club name in Gotham typeface. On March 5, 2024, the club announced a "refreshed" visual identity with darker navy and brighter light blue colors, plus new custom typefaces based on 1940s subway tile signage designed by Tobias Frere-Jones. An updated badge was unveiled on September 9, 2024, incorporating the new typefaces and a simpler, bolder configuration.
Traditional home and away kits colors
New York City FC's official color scheme consists of navy blue, sky blue, and orange. The sky blue is consistent with Manchester City's colors, while the orange pays homage to the city's Dutch origins and matches the shade found in New York City's flag. The club unveiled its inaugural jersey on November 13, 2014, featuring the sky blue home kit. The away jersey, revealed on November 24, was black with sky blue and orange trim and five reflective black stripes representing the five boroughs.
Traditional club anthem
The source material does not contain information about a traditional club anthem for New York City FC.
Traditional Rivals
New York Red Bulls
New York City FC's primary rivalry is with the New York Red Bulls in what has been dubbed the Hudson River Derby. The first meeting between the two clubs occurred on May 10, 2015, at Red Bull Arena, with the Red Bulls winning the encounter. Although initially regarded as a manufactured rivalry, the meetings between the two clubs have displayed increasing animosity, with brawls between supporters occurring before and after matches. The rivalry reached a new level in 2024 when the teams faced off in the first postseason Hudson River Derby during the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Philadelphia Union
New York City FC has developed a rivalry with the Philadelphia Union, following the pattern of other New York-Philadelphia sports rivalries. While early fixtures were routine, the rivalry intensified after New York City eliminated the Union in the 2021 Eastern Conference Final, when Philadelphia was without 11 players due to COVID-19 protocols. The rivalry further developed when the teams met again in the 2022 Eastern Conference Final, with the Union winning the rematch.
Club Traditions and Behind the Scenes
Sponsors
Etihad Airways, a City Football Group sponsor, was announced as New York City FC's inaugural jersey sponsor at the club's first kit-reveal event on November 13, 2014. The club's kit supplier is adidas, consistent with other City Football Group clubs.
Nicknames
The club is commonly referred to as NYCFC, though in 2024 the club announced it would emphasize the full name "New York City FC" while downplaying the shortened form. The source material does not mention other specific nicknames for the club.
Ownership and finances
New York City FC is owned by City Football Group, a subsidiary of the Abu Dhabi United Group, with minority stakes held by Yankee Global Enterprises (owners of the New York Yankees) and investor Marcelo Claure. The club is valued at $1 billion according to Sportico, making it the fifth most valuable club in MLS. The franchise paid a $100 million expansion fee to join the league in 2013.
Traditions and culture
The club's official supporter group, The Third Rail, began forming after the club's announcement in May 2013, reaching 1,600 members before the team's first season. The name reflects the group's desire to "power NYCFC" like the third rail powers the New York City Subway system. A second official supporters group, Los Templados #12, was recognized on February 11, 2022. The club has engaged in various social media campaigns, including the successful 'WINNYCFC' campaign that won a contest to light the Empire State Building in the team's colors.
Stadium
New York City FC primarily plays at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, which was confirmed as their home venue on April 21, 2014. Beginning in 2022, the club has played at least six of its seventeen home matches at Citi Field in Queens. Various alternative venues have been used when primary stadiums are unavailable, including Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey, and Pratt & Whitney Stadium in East Hartford, Connecticut.
In November 2022, the club announced an agreement to build Etihad Park, a 25,000-seat stadium in Willets Point, Queens. Construction began in December 2024 and is expected to be completed in time for the 2027 regular season, providing the club with its first permanent home in the five boroughs.
New York City
Club Information
Official Name
New York City
Short Name
NYC
Founding Year
2013
Tactical Formation
4-3-3
Stadium Information
Stadium Name
Yankee Stadium
Capacity
25.000
Address
One East 161st Street, The Bronx
City
New York City, North & Central America
Surface
grass
Key Personnel
Captain
Thiago Martins Bueno
Captain's Stats
185cm, 76kg
Head Coach
Pascal Jansen
Head Coach Age
53 Age
Coach Nationality
NL
Coach Contract
06/01/2025 - 31/12/2028
Recent Honours
| Season | Competition | Achievement |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Campeones Cup | 🏆 1 |
Current Season Stats
| Competition | Rank | Matches | W-D-L | Points |
|---|
Goal Statistics
Major League Soccer (USA)
25 Scored - 21 Conceded
Major League Soccer (USA)
50 Scored - 44 Conceded
Leagues Cup (Leagues)
3 Scored - 5 Conceded
Major League Soccer (USA)
54 Scored - 49 Conceded
Leagues Cup (Leagues)
2 Scored - 4 Conceded