New York City FC is celebrating its 10th season in Major League Soccer in 2025. Over the past decade, the club has evolved from an ambitious, high-profile “win-now” mentality to a more strategic, development-focused organization under the ownership of City Football Group. NYCFC has come a long way, but there is still plenty of room for growth.
A Decade of Progress
New York City Football Club is now through its first decade of existence — a remarkable achievement for a team that, back in 2010, seemed almost impossible to imagine. The prospect of another New York City soccer team seemed unlikely, but now the club stands on the verge of inaugurating its own soccer-specific stadium.
Since 2000, Major League Soccer had been determined to introduce a second New York team, particularly after the early struggles of the New York/New Jersey MetroStars when the league launched. MLS even considered purchasing the rights to the New York Cosmos, who for many years, seemed destined to join the league, until then-Cosmos CEO Seamus O’Brien balked at paying the $100 million expansion fee.
Instead, the Cosmos joined the newly formed North American Soccer League ahead of the 2013 season, but by 2021, they’ve all but vanished.
Though MLS expanded significantly during this time, a second New York team was put on the backburner until City Football Group and the New York Yankees intervened in 2013, offering a new expansion franchise, New York City FC.
A New Philosophy: Big Names Followed By Big Changes
To succeed in the crowded New York sports market, NYCFC knew they had to go big, and they did. The club brought in three major signings for their inaugural season: David Villa, Frank Lampard, and Andrea Pirlo. Mix Diskerud, then a rising United States men’s national team talent, was another key addition.
Despite the star power, the team finished with a mediocre 10-17-7 record — nothing to write home about for a new franchise.
Soon after, the club moved on from Jason Kreis, a respected MLS manager, and brought in Patrick Vieira, a CFG alum. Under Vieira’s leadership, NYCFC saw a remarkable improvement, securing second and third place finishes in the Eastern Conference and making consistent playoff appearances over the next two seasons.
Players like Jack Harrison, Tommy McNamara, Maxime Chanot, Alexander Callens, James Sands, and Alexander Ring began to flourish, which created significant noise for the club —even without winning an MLS Cup.
In 2017, Maxi Moralez arrived, forming a dynamic partnership with Villa, who eventually departed after scoring 80 goals for the club.
As the years went on, NYCFC shifted focus. The club began prioritizing two key areas: building a strong, balanced team and investing in a proper youth academy in the New York City area. This move signaled a shift away from the pursuit of big-name stars toward a more team-oriented philosophy in line with CFG’s playing style.
Unconventional signings, such as Taty Castellanos, Jesús Medina, and Héber, became the norm. In 2021, NYCFC won the MLS Cup, securing the franchise’s first major title and becoming the first New York team to win an MLS championship. This was also the first title for New York City since the 2011 Giants’ Super Bowl victory.
Ronny Deila, the mastermind behind the MLS Cup win, used his success to secure a move to coach Standard Liège in Belgium.
NYCFC has become one of the few MLS clubs to truly adapt to the global soccer market, where players come and go, but the pipeline remains strong.
Finding Value in Unknown Gems
One of the most significant benefits of CFG’s vast scouting network has been the ability to discover players with little name recognition who go on to become stars in MLS and can later be moved to Europe or other CFG clubs.
Castellanos is the most prominent success story. An Argentine player who had been with Montevideo City Torque, CFG’s Uruguayan outpost, Castellanos used MLS as a springboard to Europe, eventually joining Girona and earning a spot in the Argentine national team. He later made a $16.3 million move to Lazio.
Santiago Rodríguez, perhaps the club’s best player over the last three seasons, was sold to Brazilian club Botafogo for $17 million after also coming through Torque’s ranks.
Harrison, who began his career in the NCAA, eventually made his way to Manchester City and cemented himself as a Marcelo Bielsa disciple at Leeds United.
Building a Youth Academy
The NYCFC youth academy is becoming a crown jewel in MLS, focusing on technical skill development, possession-based football, and high-pressing play. The club boasts teams from U12 to U19 and has produced several players who have reached national team caliber, including Sands, Gio Reyna, and Joe Scally.
Sands, who played for Rangers in Scotland before moving to St. Pauli in Germany, developed his game at NYCFC before making two moves to Europe. Scally, the club’s most successful homegrown talent, is now a regular starter for Borussia Mönchengladbach, having played over 100 games in the Bundesliga.
Reyna, who came through NYCFC’s youth ranks between 2015-19, has struggled to secure first-team minutes at Borussia Dortmund, but has also played over 100 games for the club and is one of the most talented active Americans.
The next generation of players is drawing attention, especially young talents like Máximo Carrizo, whose technical skills, vision, and creativity have caught the eyes of scouts.
Zidane Yanez and Jonathan Shore are two more emerging players who could make a significant impact, with NYCFC potentially producing several top-tier prospects for the USMNT.
A Vibrant New Stadium
A crucial milestone in NYCFC’s journey is the upcoming Etihad Park, a 25,000-seat soccer-specific stadium set to open in 2027. Located in Queens, a cultural hub for sports and diverse communities, the stadium will be adjacent to Citi Field, home of the New York Mets, and near Flushing Meadow Park, where youth soccer games take place every Saturday. The stadium will complete the original vision for the club when it entered MLS.
Now What?
The question on everyone’s mind is, “What’s next for NYCFC?” While the team generates significant buzz due to its youth system and the promise of a new stadium, the New York sports landscape has changed dramatically since the club’s launch in 2015.
The New York Yankees and Mets, fierce competitors for the city’s sports fans, both have superstar players and expect to contend for the World Series. In the world of basketball, the New York Knicks have seen a resurgence, and although the New York Rangers are experiencing a down season, they’re expected to be competitive for years.
The New York Giants and Jets, regardless of their records, will always capture the attention of NFL fans in New York.
Where does NYCFC fit into all of this? It’s a critical question that the club’s brass needs to consider. New York sports are experiencing a resurgence, and it has been a long time since multiple teams in the city were the “hottest ticket” in town.
Though NYCFC’s “hard-working, market-driven” approach has worked to an extent, how does the club maintain interest when the Yankees and Mets dominate the summer?
Despite its solid roster, NYCFC lacks the star power of some of its rivals. For example, the fact that Kevin De Bruyne, one of Manchester City’s best players, is reportedly considering a move to San Diego FC over NYCFC is concerning.
This season, the club has had a modest 2-1-1 start. Without a marquee player in a city of big names, NYCFC risks being overshadowed by its more established, high-spending cousins.
While NYCFC has never been known for overspending on players, the club may need to reconsider that approach to make a mark in a competitive New York sports market. There are now four or five teams in New York that could win their respective league titles.
The past decade has been an electrifying journey for NYCFC. After failing to make the MLS Cup playoffs in 2024, the first time since the club’s inaugural season, NYCFC now stands on the brink of a new era.
If CFG truly understands the potential of a powerful New York soccer market and a competitive and winning team, while continuing to develop their philosophies and infrastructure, maybe, just maybe, fans will once again look to New York — not Miami — when they think of soccer.
Enjoyed reading this.
Don’t need star players just need wins…..