With nine matches left in the MLS regular season, New York City FC needs every point to secure another year in the playoffs. NYCFC faces FC Cincinnati at TQL Stadium, a side that has troubled New York since 2023 and remains unbeaten at home against them. Cincinnati rebounded from three straight losses with a 3-2 win at Providence Park and share the Eastern Conference lead while pursuing a second Supporters' Shield. NYCFC carries a four-match unbeaten run under Pascal Jansen, but consistency concerns persist as the club sits precariously in eighth place.
Cincinnati had lost three straight matches before playing Portland last weekend, losing their last two matches of the 2025 Leagues Cup and falling 1-0 to FC Charlotte after Tah Anunga was sent off. However, a hard-fought 3-2 win at Providence Park proved Cincinnati deserved the top spot of the Eastern Conference. The Garys put three goals past Portland in the first half, but conceded the second goal with 20 minutes left to play.
It's obvious that they are a good team, Jansen said in his pre-match press conference. However, they've been somewhat struggling in the past few gamesThen they got back together [and bounced back] the last game against Portland, if I'm not mistaken. We have to make sure that we keep them in that spot and try to get that level of play that we did in game one.
They are currently tied-first with San Diego FC on 52 points and are on a quest for a second MLS Supporters' Shield after entering the league in 2019. While NYCFC is on a four-match unbeaten streak in the MLS the longest of head coach Pascal Jansen's short tenure, questions over consistency still hang over the team's head. New York currently sits precariously in eighth in the
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