By Anonymous (not verified), February 23, 2026
From New York City FC
LA Galaxy 1-1 New York City FC
2026 MLS Regular Season - Matchday 1
Date: Sunday, February 22, 2026 | Kickoff: 7:10pm ET
Location: Dignity Health Sports Park | Carson, CA
Attendance: 25,025
New York City FC 2026 MD 1 v. LA Galaxy
New York City FC opened their 2026 MLS season with a 1-1 draw against the LA Galaxy. After falling behind early, Pascal Jansen’s side responded in the second half as Nicolás Fernández Mercau converted a penalty to level the score following Emiro Garcés’ red card. Despite late pressure and several chances, New York City had to settle for a point.
With today’s draw against the LA Galaxy, New York City FC moves to 2-6-4 (W-L-D) in season openers.
Against the Galaxy in the series overall, New York City FC continues to maintain a slight edge with a 4-3-1 record, including a 2-0-0 mark at home and a 2-3-1 record away.
This draw today is the first in the series, with each of the past seven meetings prior to this one ending in one team claiming all three points outright.
Across eight meetings in this series, the Galaxy have scored 10 goals to New York City FC’s nine, while outshooting the ‘Boys in Blue’ 110-106.
This is the second season opener between New York City FC and the LA Galaxy, with the first taking place during the 2022 Regular Season. That February match resulted in a 1-0 victory for the hosting Galaxy side.
This evening marked the return of two players with extensive history at New York City FC, with both coming on as substitutes in the second half.
Midfielder Keaton Parks, who made his first appearance for the Club since May 31, 2025, after being sidelined following surgery last year, and Forward Talles Magno, who returned to the pitch for the Club for the first time since July 28, 2024, after being loaned.
Forward Nico Fernández Mercau recorded the Club’s first goal of the 2026 MLS Regular Season, simultaneously marking his first of the season.
At 38 years and 360 days old, Midfielder Maxi Moralez surpasses his own record as the oldest player in Club history to start in an MLS Regular Season match.
Today’s match marks the 12th consecutive year when New York City FC opened their MLS Regular Season on the road.
Other opponents that have hosted New York City for the Club’s first match of the season include: the LA Galaxy (two times), Inter Miami CF, Charlotte FC, Nashville SC, D.C. United, Columbus Crew, Orlando City (three times), Sporting Kansas City, and the Chicago Fire.
Midfielder Nico Fernández Mercau recorded the Club’s first goal of the 2026 MLS Regular Season, simultaneously marking his first of the season.
This is Mercau’s first-ever Season Opener goal, and his fourth overall with the Club.
Midfielder Keaton Parks made his return to the pitch during today’s game, coming on as a substitute in the second half. This is Parks’ first appearance for the Club since May 31, 2025, against Nashville SC.
In that match, Parks recorded two assists off the bench to aid his team in rallying to a 2-2 tie away at Nashville after the Club fell behind early in the match.
Forward Talles Magno also made his return this evening to the Club, recording an appearance for the first time since a Leagues Cup match against Liga MX’s Club Querétaro on July 28, 2024.
This is Magno’s first regular season appearance since July 7, 2024, which was a 1-1 tie against Orlando City SC.
Homegrown Defender Drew Baiera registered his MLS Regular Season debut, coming into the game in the 80th minute of play.
Baiera was the 12th Homegrown signing in the Club history and has put in regular minutes in past seasons with the Club’s MLS NEXT Pro side, New York City FC II.
The Defender also becomes the 12th Homegrown player to make his MLS debut for New York City.
In today’s match, Defender Kai Trewin etched his name onto the team sheet with his first-ever start for New York City FC.
Trewin recorded an 87.7 pass accuracy rate, 57 passes, and 88 minutes on the evening.
At 38 years and 360 days old, Midfielder Maxi Moralez surpasses his own record as the oldest player in Club history to start in an MLS Regular Season match.
Three of New York City’s Homegrown players took the pitch this evening: Defender Tayvon Gray, who started the match, and Midfielder Jonathan Shore and Defender Drew Baiera, who both came on as substitutes in the latter stages of the game.
NEW YORK CITY FC HEAD COACH PASCAL JANSEN
On the second half performance of the team and Midfielder Nico Fernández Mercau’s performance...
"I think Nico [Fernández Mercau] is a good example of how we intended to play from the start. The intensity and the tempo of the game were much better in the second half than in the first half. I just said to the guys that in the first 10 to 15 minutes, the lights were on but nobody was home. That’s why we conceded the goal the way we did, and that’s very unusual for us. The first half was simply not good enough. The second half was much better, the tempo went up, and that’s something Galaxy had a lot of trouble dealing with. One of the factors was getting the penalty from a good attack where Nico got brought down, which brought us back into the game. That’s why Nico’s role was really important. Even after scoring the penalty, we kept searching for the second goal, and unfortunately we didn’t get it."
On the performance of Defender Drew Baiera...
"Drew [Baiera] has had a very strong and mature preseason. We created a new pathway for him with Mitja [Ilenič] going on loan and having Drew step in to compete with Tayvon [Gray]. Tayvon was under the weather for two or three days this week, so we were hoping he would be able to start, but we had Drew ready coming off a strong preseason. When it was his moment, he showed he can compete. His attacking involvement was good, but especially playing against a good player like [Gabriel] Pec is something you have to deal with as a young player. With 10 against 11, the transitional moments become even more important, and he did a very good job in those phases as well. I’m very pleased with his performance."
On Defender Kai Trewin and his performance...
"Overall, I’m very happy with Kai [Trewin]. He showed the qualities and personality that we saw in the process of recruiting him. He can play in the back four, the back three, and in midfield like he did today. I think he benefited from having Aiden O’Neill close to him as well. The intensity of the game is something he really loves in MLS in his first experience... Overall, his performance was quite impressive for his first game."
NEW YORK CITY FC DEFENDER KAI TREWIN
On what defines his game and what he brings to New York City...
"I’ve been lucky to come through the City Football Group in Melbourne, there are similarities in how we played there and how Pascal [Jansen] wants to play here. That helps with the introduction into the team. I like being on the ball a lot, and when we don’t have the ball, I like to press and win it high up the pitch. That fits well with how City Football Group teams want to play, and that’s probably why I felt comfortable and have settled in well."
On his debut experience in MLS...
"I loved every moment of it. From getting to the stadium and seeing the pitch and the crowd, it’s unbelievable. Walking out to a packed stadium doesn’t get much better. The game was fast and there’s a lot of quality players on both teams. I enjoyed every moment and I’m very happy to be here."
Full Match Highlights - Click Here
Goal - NYC - 66' - Nicolás Fernández Mercau [7] - Click Here
2’ - LAG - João Klauss [99]
Scored with a left-footed shot from the center of the box with an xG of 23% to the lower right zone. Assisted by Marco Reus [18], second assist by Joseph Paintsil [28].
66’ - NYC - Nicolás Fernández Mercau [7]
Scored from a penalty with a left-footed shot with an xG of 77% to the bottom left corner.
Team
First Half
Second Half
Full Time
LA Galaxy
1
0
1
New York City FC
0
1
1
Team
LA Galaxy
(0-0-1)
New York City FC
(0-0-1)
Possession %
38.5%
61.5%
Shots
8
10
Shots on Goal
7
1
Pass Accuracy %
78.1%
87%
Fouls
15
16
Corner Kicks
1
2
Saves
0
6
Full Match Statistics - Click Here
LA Galaxy (4-3-3)
New York City FC (5-4-1)
Head Coach: Greg Vanney
[1] Novak Mićović
[2] Miki Yamane
[3] Julián Aude (67 - [14] John Nelson)
[5] Jakob Glesnes
[25] Emiro Garcés
[8] Lucas Sanabria
[15] Justin Haak
[18] Marco Reus (C) (67’ - [4] Maya Yoshida)
[28] Joseph Paintsil
[99] Joao Klauss (88’ - [9] Matheus Nascimento)
[11] Gabriel Pec
Head Coach: Pascal Jansen
[5] Kai Trewin (88’ - [32] Jonathan Shore)
[7] Nicolás Fernández Mercau
[10] Maxi Moralez
[13] Thiago Martins (C)
[17] Hannes Wolf (88’ - [11] Talles Magno)
[21] Aiden O’Neill (74’ - [55] Keaton Parks)
[22] Kevin O’Toole
[24] Tayvon Gray (80’ - [38] Drew Baiera)
[26] Agustín Ojeda
[34] Raul Gustavo
[49] Matt Freese
Subs Unused
[12] JT Marcinkowski
[19] Mauricio Cuevas
[21] Tucker Lepley
[24] Ruben Ramos Jr
[26] Harbor Miller
Subs Unused
[2] Nico Cavallo
[19] Strahinja Tanasijević
[29] Máximo Carrizo
[30] Tomás Romero
[99] Seymour Reid
LAG
Yellow Cards (2)
36’ - Emiro Garcés [25] - Bad Foul
59’ - Julián Aude [3] - Bad Foul
Red Cards (1)
64’ - Emiro Garcés [25] - Second Yellow
NYC
Yellow Cards (3)
42’ - Tayvon Gray [24] - Bad Foul
56’ - Kai Trewin [5] - Bad Foul
86’ - Keaton Parks [55] - Bad Foul
Red Cards (0)
Referee: Victor Rivas
AR1: Jeffrey Greeson
AR2: Felisha Mariscal
4th Official: Servando Berna
VAR: Edvin Jurisevic
AVAR: Robert Schaap
New York City FC’s 2026 MLS Regular Season started on the West Coast on Sunday night with a game against the LA Galaxy.
Head Coach Pascal Jansen handed a debut to new signing Kai Trewin, while former New York City homegrown Justin Haak lined up in midfield for the Galaxy after making an offseason switch to the West Coast.
Unfortunately, the visitors fell behind inside the opening five minutes after João Klauss stroked home a low pass from Marco Reus.
The contest quickly settled and in the 15th minute, a well-timed intervention from Aiden O’Neill set New York City away on the counter. Nicolás Fernández Mercau slid Hannes Wolf in down the left flank, but he struggled to get the ball out from under his feet and hit a tame shot wide with his left foot.
Minutes later, Gabriel Pec tested Matt Freese with a low shot straight at the goalkeeper that was eventually cleared by Raul Gustavo. Mercau tried to restore parity from distance just before the half-hour mark, but his ambitious effort failed to trouble the goalkeeper.
Reus was handed the chance to double the Galaxy’s lead from a free kick in the 34th minute, but did not trouble Freese. Mercau then went much closer in the 39th minute after Hannes Wolf cut the ball back to him. His low, driven effort was goal-bound but blocked by a Galaxy defender.
In first-half stoppage time, Pec drew a great save from Freese after pouncing on a loose ball inside the box and wrapping a curled shot across goal.
After the break, Agustín Ojeda tried to get New York City back in the game but saw his effort blocked by Jakob Glesnes.
The match swung decisively in New York City’s favor in the 66th minute when Fernández Mercau was brought down in the box, earning a penalty.
The challenge also drew a second yellow for Galaxy defender Emiro Garcés, reducing the visitors to ten men.
Mercau stepped up and calmly converted from the spot to level the score.
One almost became two minutes later when Kevin O’Toole made a driving run from left back that culminated in a shot that just whistled past the post.
Jansen turned to his bench for the first time in the 74th minute as Keaton Parks made a welcome return to the team after injury and replaced O’Neill.
Parks went close to putting New York City ahead after getting his head to a Fernández Mercau cross, but the ball unfortunately just trickled wide.
In the 80th minute, Drew Baiera was handed an MLS debut when he replaced Tayvon Gray.
Five minutes later, Wolf was given the chance to put New York City ahead but missed the target.
That would prove to be his last involvement of the night as Talles Magno and Jonny Shore entered the game in place of Wolf and Trewin.
In stoppage time, a delightful one-two between Fernández Mercau and Parks allowed the former to curl a beautiful effort toward goal that flew just inches past the post.
That proved to be New York City’s final clear opportunity of the night, and the match ended 1–1, with both sides settling for a point.