New York City FC v. Seattle Sounders FC 2025 MLS Regular Season - Matchday 39 Date: Saturday, October 18, 2025 | Kickoff: 6:10pm ET Location: Citi Field | Flushing, NY Television: MLS Season Pass Radio (English/Spanish): New York City FC App | Tune In App newyorkcityfc.com/radio
HEAD COACH PASCAL JANSEN
DEFENDER RAUL GUSTAVO
NEW YORK CITY FC HEAD COACH PASCAL JANSEN
On the development of the attacking players... “That’s always one of the challenges of being a coach with such a talented attacking group. The way we play sometimes allows us to use four or five [attackers] at once, and sometimes only three. Usually, it’s around four players starting, which means I have to disappoint a few. That keeps competition in the dressing room healthy. The younger ones like ‘Agu’ [Agustín Ojeda] and ‘Juli’ [Julián Fernández] have shown great potential, and their output has grown throughout the season, especially Agustín’s. Hannes [Wolf] is in double digits [in goals scored] this year, 'Nico’ [Nicolás Fernández], as one of our DPs, made an instant impact, and Alonso [Martínez] is our No. 9. Watching them train, they’re all competitive and eager to show what they can do, which is exactly what we want. Their involvement throughout the season has been very strong.”
On overall performance by players on international duty... “I was happy with their performances overall, especially since they came back healthy, which is very important. For instance, Aiden [O'Neill] has played 60 games this season. When I watched the [Australia] game against the U.S. [Men's National Team], it was good to see him compete with Matt [Freese] and give him a little banter when he came back, that he’s the one who lost. It’s always good to see my guys play, but no surprises overall. The one I’d like to mention is 'Tico’ Alonso [Martínez]. Seeing him score twice for his country is important for Costa Rica and for us, having a sharp, ready ‘Tico’ coming back into our team.”
NEW YORK CITY FC DEFENDER RAUL GUSTAVO
On arriving to New York City FC... “For me, it’s a pleasure. The impact was huge because New York City FC is a big team. When I received the opportunity, I told my agent I wanted to go because it’s a big step for my career. Pascal [Jansen] is a coach I knew before in Hungary. He is an excellent coach who has helped me a lot. I’m very happy and excited to be here because New York City, this city and its culture, is amazing.”
Thoughts on Major League Soccer... “The competition here is tough. You need to focus and train a lot. It’s a bit different from Hungary. It is faster, more physical, and you have to think and move quickly. MLS is a big competition. It is growing a lot, and everyone watches it. This will be my first playoffs, and I’m preparing to give my best.”
A SEASON SUMMARY New York City FC has stepped up to the task in big moments throughout this 2025 MLS Regular season.
With a win against Seattle Sounders FC in New York City’s upcoming match, New York City would equal their highest ever win total in Club history with 18.
The team won 18 matches in the 2019 MLS Regular Season.
With his 17 wins, Head Coach Pascal Jansen is one win away from tying the Club record of most wins attained by a head coach in a single season with 18.
This record is held by former Head Coach Domenec Torrent, who recorded 18 wins with the Club in the 2019 MLS Regular Season.
New York City has been on a good run of form in their last ten matches, having posted a record of 7-3-0 (W-L-D).
During the first seven games of this stretch, New York City only lost once.
The Club went on two, three-game winning streak over the span of these seven matches.
First, the Club then won three in a row, beating FC Dallas 4-3 at Toyota Stadium on July 25, 2025, downing Nashville SC 2-1 at Yankee Stadium on August 17, 2025, and shutting out FC Cincinnati 1-0 at TQL Stadium on August 23, 2025.
After a 2-1 loss to D.C. United at Yankee Stadium on August 30, 2025, the Club won three more matches in a row, defeating Chicago Fire FC 3-1 at Soldier Field on September 13, 2025, downing the Columbus Crew 3-2 at Yankee Stadium on September 17, 2025, and shutting out Charlotte FC 2-0 at Yankee Stadium on September 20, 2025.
The seventh and most recent win for New York City over the Club’s last ten matches was a 3-2 Hudson River Derby victory against the Red Bulls at Sports Illustrated Stadium on September 27, 2025.
The Club swept (winning two games against an opponent in a single MLS Regular Season) the Red Bulls this MLS Regular Season. The team’s other win against the Red Bulls was a 2-0 clean sheet at Citi Field on May 17, 2025.
New York City has swept the Red Bulls in consecutive MLS Regular seasons, doing so in 2024 and 2025. The Club also swept the Red Bulls in the 2022 MLS Regular Season.
They have swept the Red Bulls the second most times in Club history, doing so three times (along with Toronto).
Cincinnati was swept the most, having been swept four times.
This was the Club’s fifth sweep of this MLS Regular Season. These five sweeps in a single MLS Regular Season is a Club record.
In the 2025 MLS Regular Season, New York City has faced 14 opponents who were ranked above them in the MLS standings at the time of the match, and 18 opponents who were ranked below them. Their opening match of the season, a 2-2 draw against Inter Miami CF, is not included, as neither team held a higher position in the standings at that point.
Against opponents ranked above them in the MLS standings when entering the match, New York City holds a record of 9-3-2. The Club has scored 19 goals, conceded 11 and recorded six clean sheets.
Against opponents ranked below them in the MLS standings when entering the match, New York City holds a .500 record of 8-8-2. The Club has scored 28 goals, conceded 29 and recorded three clean sheets.
In MLS play (regular season and playoffs), New York City FC holds a 20-3-3 all-time record when Forward Alonso Martínez scores at least once. Across those matches, New York City FC has tallied 61 total goals and Martínez has tallied 34.
In the 2024 MLS season (including playoffs), Martínez appeared in 30 matches and scored 17 goals.
When he scored, New York City posted an 8-2-2 record and totaled 31 goals across those matches.
Thus far in the 2025 MLS regular season, Martínez has played in 29 matches and scored 17 goals.
When he has found the net, New York City holds a 12-1-1 record, with 30 goals scored in those games.
The Club has also won the last 10 straight matches in which Martínez has scored, a streak dating back to April 12, 2025, against the Philadelphia Union.
This streak ranks second all-time for this stat with Martínez scoring 13 of the team’s 21 goals during this stretch.
Martínez’s streak beat Former Defender Anton Tinnerholm on September 20, 2025, against Charlotte FC. Tinnerholm had a nine-game win streak (03/11/2018-10/03/2020), scoring nine of the team’s 23 goals.
Moralez holds the longest win streak with 17 games (03/04/2018-07/25/2021), scoring 18 of the team’s 49 goals.
This streak also ranks for fifth most in longest unbeaten runs when a New York City FC player scores. Martínez is tied with Valentín Castellanos for this feat.
Castellanos streak dates from August 4, 2018 to October 7, 2020. Within this streak Castellanos scored 13 of the team's 25 goals.
When playing on the road, New York City FC is on a five-game winning streak for when Martínez scores, dating back to April 26, 2025.
Martínez has scored a total of seven of the Club's 11 goals during this stretch (04/26/25-9/13/25).
At home, the ‘Boys in Blue’ are currently on a 10-match winning streak when Martínez scores, dating back to October 2, 2024.
For this statistic, Martínez is ranked sole-third. He surpassed Keaton Parks’ (nine match winning streak) record on September 20, 2025, against Charlotte.
Martínez has scored 11 of the Club’s 23 goals during this stretch (10/02/2024-08/17/2025).
Parks scored nine of the Club’s 27 goals during his streak (09/14/2019-04/27/2024).
Moralez ranks second with a 12-game streak (03/17/2018-07/25/2021), scoring 13 of the team’s 39 goals.
Former Forward Valentín Castellanos ranks first with a 13-game streak (4/24/2019-10/27/2021), scoring 20 of the team’s 43 goals.
This streak both began and ended with clean sheet victories for New York City FC. The streak started with a 1-0 win against Chicago Fire FC on April 24, 2019, and ended with a 1-0 win against Chicago on October 27, 2021.
Lastly, when Martínez scores two or more goals, New York City FC has a record of five wins and one draw. Additionally, in those matches New York City has tallied 20 goals, almost triple their seven goals conceded.
When Martínez scores two or more goals he encompasses a total of 14 goals.
The matches he scored two or more goals include a 5-1 win against San Jose Earthquakes (5/31/24), a 2-0 win against CF Montréal (7/3/24), a 2-2 draw against Chicago (8/24/24), a 5-1 win against the New York Red Bulls (9/28/24), a 4-3 win against Dallas (7/25/25), and a 2-0 win against Charlotte.
QUALITY IN QUEENS New York City heads back to Queens at Citi Field for their Decision Day matchup against Seattle Sounders FC.
New York City’s record at home stands at 11-5-0 (W-L-D). This ranks as the sixth-best home record in MLS, with New York City FC level on 33 points with the New York Red Bulls.
This will be the fifth match for the team at Citi Field in this MLS Regular Season and the Club’s last MLS Regular Season and home match.
The Club has gone 3-1-0 at Citi Field this MLS Regular Season.
At Yankee Stadium, the Club went 8-4-0.
The four matches at Citi Field were played against the following opponents this MLS Regular Season: clean sheet, 1-0 wins against Philadelphia and Cincinnati, a 2-0 shutout against the Red Bulls, and a 4-0 loss to Inter Miami.
The team’s overall Citi Field record during the MLS Regular Season is 12-4-6.
The opponents played at this stadium include Toronto FC, Sporting Kansas City, Chicago Fire FC (x3), FC Cincinnati (x2), Nashville SC, FC Dallas, Philadelphia Union (x2), Charlotte FC, Minnesota United FC, Orlando City SC, Atlanta United FC, D.C. United, the Columbus Crew, the New York Red Bulls (x2), CF Montréal, the Colorado Rapids and Inter Miami CF.
This will be the first ever time New York City hosts Seattle at Citi Field. The last time the two sides met was on July 3, 2019, at Yankee Stadium in the 2019 MLS Regular Season. New York City held Seattle scoreless in a 3-0 victory.
This MLS Regular Season, the team went on a three-match winning streak at Citi Field, recording 1-0 clean sheets against Philadelphia on April 12, 2025, and Cincinnati on May 4, 2025, and shutting out the Red Bulls in the Hudson River Derby 2-0 on May 17, 2025.
This marks the longest run of consecutive victories at Citi Field since the team started playing there in the 2017 MLS Regular Season.
Similarly, before the Club’s 4-0 loss to Inter Miami, the team had not lost a game in Queens since May 5, 2024, when New York City played Colorado and lost 2-0.
In between these two matches, the Club went on a six-match unbeaten run at Citi Field, posting a 5-0-1 record, the second-longest streak in the team’s history at the venue.
The Club beat the Red Bulls 2-1 on May 18, 2024, shut out Montréal 2-0 on July 3, 2024, drew Chicago 2-2 on August 24, 2024, shut out Philadelphia 1-0 on April 12, 2025, shut out Cincinnati on May 4, 2025, and shut out the Red Bulls 2-0 on May 17, 2025.
The longest stretch of going unbeaten at Citi Field was seven matches, where the team posted a 4-0-3 record.
The Club drew Columbus 2-2 on October 22, 2017, beat Toronto 5-4 on April 24, 2022, recorded a scoreless draw to Kansas City on May 7, 2022, shut out Chicago 1-0 on May 22, 2022, tied Cincinnati 1-1 on September 7, 2022, beat Nashville 2-1 on April 15, 2023, and beat Dallas 3-1 on April 22, 2023.
Over 22 games played at Citi Field, New York City FC has scored 32 goals and conceded 25. The team has nine recorded clean sheets.
All-time during the MLS Regular Season, current players who have scored in Citi Field are as follows: Martínez (6G), Forward Julián Fernández (3G), Midfielder Keaton Parks (2G), Forward Hannes Wolf (1G) and Midfielder Maxi Moralez (1G).
With his six goals, Martínez is the top scorer in Citi Field all-time during the MLS Regular Season, surpassing former Midfielder Santiago Rodríguez (5G).
All-time, current players who have assisted at Citi Field are as follows: Wolf (4A), Parks (3A), Moralez (2A), Defender Tayvon Gray (2A), Defender Mitja Ilenič (2A), Forward Malachi Jones (1A), Midfielder Justin Haak (1A), and Martínez (1A).
At Citi Field all-time, the following current players have scored at least one game-winning goal: Martínez (3G) and Fernández (2G).
At Citi Field all-time, the following current players have recorded at least one game-winning assist: Wolf (3A), Haak (1A), Ilenič (1A) and Gray (1A).
In the 12 matches won at Citi Field, the team scored first in all of them but one (5-4 v. Toronto on April 24, 2022).
The team is 11-1-2 when scoring first.
When recording a clean sheet in Queens, the team has a record of 8-0-1.
The team is undefeated when scoring at least two or more goals, with a record of 8-0-2.
Matt Freese has recorded three shutouts at Citi Field in the 2025 MLS Regular Season, adding to his all-time total of seven clean sheets recorded at Citi Field.
He has recorded a clean sheet in three of the four matches played at Citi Field this season.
His three-match clean sheet streak when at Citi Field is his longest string of consecutive shutouts at Citi Field in his career.
These shutouts were against 1-0 victories against Philadelphia on April 12, 2025, and Cincinnati on May 4, 2024, and a 2-0 victory in the Hudson River Derby against the Red Bulls on May 17, 2025.
All-time at Citi Field, Freese’s record stands at 8-2-2 through 12 games played in Queens.
Freese has only conceded 10 goals over 12 games played in the MLS Regular Season at Citi Field. His goals-against average (GAA) is 0.83 when playing at Citi Field, having made 34 saves over that span.
AGAINST THE WEST All-time, New York City has played MLS Regular Season matches against 14 different Western Conference teams, posting a total record of 34-28-20 (W-L-D), with a .500 or better record against more than half of these teams.
The team has posted a 3-2-0 record against Seattle.
The Club has gone undefeated with a 6-0-1 record against the San Jose Earthquakes.
In addition, the team has a .500 or better record against the following teams: 4-1-4 against Dallas, 4-3-0 against the LA Galaxy, 3-1-3 against both the Vancouver Whitecaps and the Colorado Rapids, 3-2-2 against Sporting Kansas City and 1-1-2 against Los Angeles Football Club.
At home, New York City has posted a 20-11-9 all-time record against the West.
New York City has played against 12 Western Conference teams at home, posting a .500 or better record against 10 of these teams.
The team has posted a 2-1-0 record against Seattle.
The team has gone undefeated with a 5-0-0 record against the Earthquakes, a 2-0-0 record against the Galaxy, a 2-0-2 record against Dallas, a 1-0-2 record against the Whitecaps and a 0-0-1 record against LAFC.
In addition, the team has a .500 or better record against the following teams: 2-1-1 against the Rapids and Kansas City 2-1-0 against Real Salt Lake and 1-1-2 against Houston Dynamo FC.
On the road, New York City has posted a 14-17-11 record against the West.
New York City has played against 14 Western Conference teams on the road, posting a .500 or better record against nine of these teams.
The team has posted a 1-1-0 record against Seattle.
The team has gone undefeated with a 1-0-2 record against the Rapids and a 1-0-1 record against the Earthquakes.
In addition, the team has a .500 or better record against the following teams: 2-1-2 against Dallas, 2-1-1 against the Whitecaps and 1-1-1 against Kansas City, the Portland Timbers, Minnesota United FC and LAFC.
All-time, the following current players have goal contributions recorded against the West: Moralez (8G, 14A), Martínez (6G), Parks (4G, 1A), Midfielder Andrés Perea (2G, 2A), Wolf (1G, 2A), Gray (2A), Midfielder Jonathan Shore (1G), Defender and Captain Thiago Martins (1A), Jones (1A), Midfielder Aiden O’Neill (1A) and Midfielder Nicolás Fernández Mercau (1A).
This season, the following current players have goal contributions recorded against the West: Martínez (3G), Moralez (3A), Shore (1G), Perea (1G), Parks (1G), Wolf (1A), Martins (1A), O’Neill (1A), Fernández Mercau (1A).
In a 4-3 win against FC Dallas this MLS Regular season, Martínez recorded a game-winning goal, and Fernández Mercau recorded a game-winning assist.
SOUNDING THE ALARM
New York City FC will face off against Seattle at Citi Field in their final match of the 2025 MLS Regular Season.
New York City sits in fifth place in the Eastern Conference with 56 points.
Seattle sits in fifth in the Western Conference with 52 points.
This is the first and only meeting between the two teams in this MLS Regular Season.
This upcoming matchup will only be the sixth all-time meeting between the two teams in the MLS.
The last time the two teams faced off was in the 2019 MLS Regular Season.
All-time in the MLS Regular Season, New York City has a positive record against Seattle, going 3-2-0. At home, New York City is also in the plus column at 2-1-0. On the road, New York City has a winning percentage of .500 with a record of 1-1-0.
Since the inaugural matchup between these two teams on May 3, 2015, in a 3-1 New York City defeat at Yankee Stadium, New York City has only lost to Seattle once. New York City has won three of the last four matchups.
New York City won the most recent matchup, shutting out Seattle 3-0 at Yankee Stadium on July 3, 2019.
New York City also shut out Seattle at Lumen Field 2-0 on June 25, 2016.
New York City has never been held scoreless by Seattle.
In addition to these shutouts, New York City defeated Seattle 2-1 at Yankee Stadium on June 17, 2017.
With a victory, New York City will look to win two in a row against Seattle.
They achieved this feat with a 2-0 shut out at Lumen Field on June 25, 2016, and a 2-1 win at Yankee Stadium on June 17, 2017.
If the Club records a shutout, it will be the first time the team has shutout Seattle in consecutive matches. They shut out Seattle in their most recent matchup in a 3-0 win at Yankee Stadium on July 3, 2019.
Midfielder Maxi Moralez is the only current player to have recorded a goal contribution against Seattle (1G).
Moralez scored the game-winning goal in New York City’s most recent matchup against Seattle, a 3-0 clean sheet at Yankee Stadium on July 3, 2019.
All time against Seattle, Moralez ranks in a tie for first in game-winning goals scored for the Club. He is only one of three players to score a game-winning goal.
The other two players to have scored a game-winning goal against Seattle are former Midfielder Frank Lampard and former Forward David Villa.
All-time against Seattle, Moralez ranks in a tie for second in goals scored for the Club. He is only one of seven players to score at least one goal.
