Club Puebla v. New York City FC Leagues Cup 2025 - Phase One Match One Date: Tuesday, July 29, 2025 | Kickoff: 8pm ET Location: Sports Illustrated Stadium | Harrison, New Jersey Television: MLS Season Pass Radio (English/Spanish): New York City FC App | Tune In App newyorkcityfc.com/radio | Sirius XM: Ch. 157 (English) Ch. 1999 (Spanish)
NEW YORK CITY FC HEAD COACH PASCAL JANSEN
On Leagues Cup and how he’s going to manage it… "Well, the mindset is the same as every game. We don't make any separate plans going into the MLS or Leagues Cup for that matter. We're going into this tournament to win games and get as far as we can. However, we are playing a lot of games in a short period of time. So you also have to take care of your players and that's something we'll take into consideration. But this opponent is intriguing. They play with a lot of intensity, very aggressive, also a lot of movement. What I do like about them, the technical skill level is at a very, very good level also. So I'm very curious to see how we can hold ourselves against this team and all the other Mexican teams for that matter. Because the Mexican league is highly rated."
On the atmospheres that Leagues Cup will bring…
"Well, I think it's a beautiful initiative. I'm really, really looking forward to it. I've heard many stories about it, and it's always been a rivalry between the Mexican and the American teams. We've seen that just recently also with the Gold Cup final. How hectic it can be and how intense it can get. So I'm hoping for the same atmosphere in our games going forward this week."
NEW YORK CITY FC FORWARD ALONSO MARTÍNEZ
On playing in Leagues Cup… "Of course the team’s mentality doesn’t change at all. I think we obviously want to win. The team is really eager to play, to start the Leagues Cup. But I think there will be a few changes, though that doesn’t change anything. I think if we’re in New York, it’s because we’re doing things right. We’re a great team, and I know we can go far in the tournament."
Pensamientos sobre jugar en Leagues Cup… "Por supuesto que la mentalidad del equipo no cambia nada. Creo que, por supuesto, queremos ganar. El equipo está muy, muy ansioso de jugar, de iniciar la Leagues Cup. Pero bueno, creo que sí va a haber algunos cambios, pero igual no cambia nada. Creo que si estamos en Nueva York es porque estamos haciendo las cosas bien. Somos un gran equipo y sé que podemos sacar la victoria."
HISTORY IN THE COMPETITION
Since the expansion of the Leagues Cup competition in 2023, New York City FC has taken part in each edition since. This year, it will be New York City’s third entry.
In the competition thus far, New York City FC’s record stands at 2-3-3 (W-L-D).
New York City won the shootout and advanced forward in two out of three matches that ended in draws.
The wins in regulation were against Toronto FC and Tigres UANL.
The losses came against Atlas Fútbol Club, the New York Red Bulls, and FC Cincinnati.
The draws were against Querétaro F.C., the New England Revolution, and the Columbus Crew.
The shootout wins were against Querétaro and New England, while the lone shootout loss came against Columbus.
New York City FC’s first match in the competition since the reformulation was against Atlas FC and was hosted by the Club at Citi Field on July 23, 2023.
Atlas FC scored in the seventh minute, and with New York City failing to equalize the game, the result ended in a 0-1 win for the visitors.
New York City’s best finish thus far in the Leagues Cup tournament was in the Quarterfinals in 2024.
New York City played FC Cincinnati and Querétaro in the group stage, ending up second in the group with two points.
Then, New York City faced off against New England in the Round of 32 and advanced to the next round after winning the penalty shootout.
Columbus ended the Club’s run in the knockout stage that year with a 4-3 win on penalties after both teams tied 1-1 in regulation.
The only other year the team competed was in 2023, when the team faced Atlas and Toronto in the group stage, but then got knocked out by the New York Red Bulls on the road in the Round of 32.
When the team is playing away in Leagues Cup, their record stands at 1-2-2 through five matches played on the road.
New York City has scored first on the road three times (v. FC Cincinnati, New England, and Columbus). When that happens, the Club’s record is 0-1-2.
When the team concedes first away (v. New York Red Bulls and Tigres UANL), the Club’s record is 1-1-0.
The away match against Tigres UANL took place at Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, New Jersey.
When playing at home in Leagues Cup, the team’s record is 1-1-1.
The team has only scored first in one of the three matches (v. Toronto) and it was a win for the Club.
In the other two matches at home (v. Atlas and Querétaro), the team was held scoreless.
The team has hosted home matches at Citi Field (v. Atlas), Sports Illustrated Stadium (v. Toronto), and Yankee Stadium (v. Querétaro).
New York City has been held scoreless on three out of eight total matches played in Leagues Cup (v. Atlas, New York Red Bulls, and Querétaro).
Similarly, the team has scored two goals or more in three total matches (v. Toronto, Cincinnati, and Tigres UANL).
In the other two matches, the team scored exactly one goal (v. New England and Columbus).
New York City FC has scored 11 goals in Leagues Cup play, while conceding nine from opponents.
At home, the team has five goals scored with one conceded.
On the road, the team has scored six goals and allowed eight.
The most goals scored in a single Leagues Cup game by New York City FC was five, which occurred against Toronto at home.
Conversely, the most goals conceded by the Club in a Leagues Cup match were four, which happened against Cincinnati on the road.
Midfielder Maxi Moralez (1G) and Forwards Mounsef Bakrar (1G) and Alonso Martínez (1G) are the only active roster New York City players to have scored goals in Leagues Cup.
In total, four other New York City FC players have scored goals in Leagues Cup play, including former Midfielder Santiago Rodríguez (5G), Defender Maxime Chanot (1G), Midfielder Andres Jasson (1G), and Forward Jovan Mijatović (1G).
Just two current New York City FC players have recorded assists in the competition, including Moralez (2A) and Martínez (1A).
Moralez has the most assists for the team in the competition since New York City FC’s participation since 2023.
Three other players for the Club have recorded assists, including Rodríguez (1A), former Defender Braian Cufré (1A), and Forward Talles Magno (1A).
Goalkeepers Matt Freese and Luis Barraza have both played for the Club in Leagues Cup play.
Freese has recorded one more save (14) than Barraza (13).
Both Freese and Barraza have one clean sheet in the tournament.
Defender Thiago Martins leads in shootout goals for the Club, with three.
Other current players that are on this list include Martínez and Moralez (who both have two shootout goals) and Mounsef Bakrar, Forward Julián Fernández, and Midfielder Justin Haak (who all have one shootout goal).
Other players for the Club that have shootout goals include Midfielder James Sands (two shootout goals), Rodríguez (two shootout goals), and Mijatović (one shootout goal).
