The countdown is on…
The new MLS season is a matter of days away, and the excitement is building.
New York City Football Club’s 2023 campaign kicks off on Saturday with a trip to Nashville SC, and Nick Cushing’s side are ready to ignite the new year with a bang.
In the build-up for the highly-anticipated season opener, we examine ten things to look out for in the season ahead…
The Openers
City face a tough start with a pair of road fixtures, traveling to Nashville SC in the season opener on 25 February (4:30pm ET) and Chicago Fire on 4 March (8:30pm). After a season in the Western Conference, Nashville are back in the Eastern division, with St Louis City SC entering MLS as the league’s 29th Club.
NYCFC then return to home soil, welcoming Inter Miami CF to Yankee Stadium on 11 March (7:30pm), as the Boys in Blue step out onto home turf for the first time since the two teams met in Round One of the 2022 playoffs back in October: a memorable 3-0 win for the hosts.
Speaking during City’s preseason training, Cushing acknowledged the challenging start his side face in their first three fixtures, but says the squad are looking to start the season brightly.
“Of course, you're looking to get results in those early games,” he said. “As a performance team, we'll have a lot of conversations around how we feel we can get off to a better start, how we feel that we can make sure that we put points on the board that gives us a better chance going into the middle part of the season, and the end.
“But also, we're really aware it's a really competitive league. We start with two really difficult away fixtures, and then we go into a really difficult home opener. We know each game is going to be hard. We’re making sure that we have a team that is cohesive and together, so that we can start well, but if we don't, we can fall back on that togetherness to make sure that we can get into a rhythm, and into a stride with our performance quickly.”
At The Helm
The new season will mark Cushing’s first full term in charge of the Club.
Joining the NYCFC set-up as Assistant Coach back in 2020, the 38-year-old was appointed Interim Head Coach in June following Ronny Deila’s departure. Guiding City to Campeones Cup glory and the Eastern Conference Final, he was then officially named Head Coach in November.
After an initial transition period, the team hit their stride in September, sparked by the Cup Final success, clinching six straight wins to secure a seventh successive playoff spot. Through that period, the team showed glimpses of the beautiful football Cushing has become known for, such as the stunning 19-pass goal in our playoff triumph over Miami.
During his time as Manager at Manchester City Women, he led the Blues to six major trophies, instilling an attractive and effective brand of football, and is highly-regarded for his tactical nous and player-management, as Keaton Parks explained:
“He's a great person, a great coach. I think he's adapted well, very quickly. He was here as an Assistant Coach, so that always helps, but I think he's adapted well. I think the players have adapted to him and his coaching style, and the way he wants to play. I think it's going very well, very smoothly. I like him a lot. He's a very good guy outside of soccer as well, checking in on the players and how we're doing, so it's good.”
Having now had the chance to mould his NYCFC squad and instill his philosophy throughout preseason, he will hope to add more sparkle to his glittering CV.
New Blues
New year, new faces.
It’s been a busy off-season for NYCFC in the transfer window with five new recruits: Tony Alfaro, Gabe Segal, Mitja Ilenic, Braian Cufre and Matt Freese.
There is new blood in every department, following the departures of some long-serving names over the winter, and the new arrivals have been settling in well over the course of preseason, both on and off the pitch.
Defender Alfaro brings with him a wealth of MLS experience, while goalkeeper Freese has already shown his quality with an injury-time penalty save in the preseason win over LA Galaxy, and left-back Cufre joins the Club having helped Real Mallorca to promotion to La Liga.
Meanwhile, youngsters Gabe Segal and Mitja Ilenic are exciting talents, who have shown glimpses of their quality both in matches and training. Welcome the latest additions to the City family.
Inside Training | Gabriel Pereira vs. Matt Freese
New Threads
Look good, feel good.
Bronx Blue will have never looked better with the team donning the 2023-24 Interboro kit this year.
With NYC at the heart of everything we do, the colorful strip is inspired by the confluence of cultures that comprise the world's greatest city.
Fittingly showcased around the Five Boroughs, the vibrant design reflects New York's mosaic of people and backgrounds. Featuring the iconic City blue, plus navy and orange trim in tribute to the NYC flag, the 2023-24 kit is the most striking yet.
There is also a nod to the spirit of the community with the symbol of the Statue of Liberty's torch emblazoned at the bottom - an idea crafted by Young Leaders from City in the Community, the nonprofit foundation proudly supported by NYCFC.
Show your colors. For the City. ‘The Interboro Kit’ is now on-sale via MLSstore.com/new-york-city-fc.
NYCFC 2023-24 Home Kit Revealed | The Interboro Kit
Derby Days
Mark your calendars!
They’re the fixtures you first look out for when the schedule is released, and they’re ones you definitely won’t want to miss, especially with City having swept the Season Series for the first time last year!
The first meeting of 2023 will take place at Red Bull Arena on 13 May (7:30pm), while the home clash is currently set for 16 September (time TBD).
With two wins from two MLS encounters last season – a 1-0 road victory, and 2-0 home triumph – will New York remain Blue this year…?
(Of course, it will!)
Match Highlights | NYCFC 2-0 Red Bulls
The Big Apple
It’s set to be a game-changing year for Major League Soccer with the launch of Apple TV’s new subscription streaming service: the MLS Season Pass.
Marking the official kick-off of the ten-year partnership between MLS and Apple, Apple TV will be the exclusive destination for live matches, allowing fans around the world to watch every MLS, Audi Cup playoff and Leagues Cup game all in one place!
Fans will be closer to the action than ever before, enjoying match coverage (including selected MLS NEXT Pro fixtures), as well as behind-the-scenes footage, analysis, replays and more.
The MLS Season Pass is now available to anyone with internet access across all devices where the app can be found.
Leagues Cup
This year also welcomes a new format for the returning Leagues Cup competition.
The new edition of the 47-team tournament (18 from LIGA MX and 29 from MLS) will see Clubs pause their respective domestic schedules to lock horns in a World Cup-style format.
NYCFC have been drawn against Campeones Cup Final opponents Atlas F.C., and fellow MLS outfit Toronto FC, with the action set to begin in July, continuing into August.
Each team will contest two Group Stage matches with the top two from each group advancing to the Knockout Stage Round of 32.
With another piece of silverware and three places in the 2024 Concacaf Champions League up for grabs, there’s plenty at stake... Bring it on!
Ready To Shine
New optimism, new motivation, fresh legs and a fresh start.
With 2022’s mid-season rhythm hampered with unfortunate injuries to several key names, the new campaign marks a clean slate, allowing the chance for players to put their injury troubles behind them and show what they can do.
Keaton Parks and Alfredo Morales have spoken of their desire to start afresh in 2023, following difficult spells on the sidelines. Parks sadly missed out on the 2021 MLS Cup triumph, but returned for the final stages of our Campeones Cup win, while the reverse was true for Morales.
Returning refreshed and ready to go, the pair are determined to play more established roles in the Club’s trophy hunt.
Cushing also revealed there are several players in the squad who have recently stepped up into leadership roles, with others focused on taking their game to the next level. A team fueled by ambition, hunger and self-improvement – a coach’s dream.
Stepping Up
Last year proved another memorable season for the Club’s Academy.
In addition to the launch of NYCFC II ahead of the inaugural MLS NEXT Pro campaign, City also celebrated senior debuts and new contracts for some of our most exciting young talents and Homegrown heroes.
The 2023 preseason may well prove to be a positive step in several players’ development, with Cushing having included numerous Academy players in the roster, eager to benefit from the increased exposure to the First Team environment.
It is not just on the field where those players can learn valuable lessons too. While the youngsters impressed both in practice and the friendly fixtures, testing themselves alongside and against established MLS names, they were also able to gain an insight into how the senior leaders conduct themselves off the pitch.
How will the youngsters fare in 2023, and who will make the step up? Only time will tell… Watch this space.
Home Stretch
An exciting finale!
As the MLS regular season reaches its thrilling conclusion, Cushing and co. will look to make home advantage count in the hunt for a playoff place.
Seven of City’s final ten fixtures of the league campaign are on home soil, including the final day visit of Chicago Fire.
The NYCFC faithful have played a major role in the Club’s recent success, following the Boys in Blue home and away to show their support.
With so much on the line in ‘the business end’ of the season, every single person connected to the Club will be needed in another team effort, in what could prove to be a pivotal and historic period in our history. Vamos, NYCFC!
Don't miss your chance to watch the Boys in Blue on home soil! Tickets for NYCFC regular season matches are now on sale.