New York City FC is thrilled to be celebrating a decade of success both on and off the field in the world’s greatest city. From an MLS Cup victory to the growth of our community programming and the start of construction on our new stadium, the memories have been incredible. In order to mark the occasion, we wanted to reflect on some of those big moments and look forward to the next decade of soccer right here in New York City.
2021 MLS Cup Win
First and foremost, in 2021, the club achieved the ultimate goal of delivering an MLS Cup championship to New York City. From winning match after match on the road to ultimately sealing the championship in dramatic fashion on penalties in Portland, the club delivered its home city its first championship title in over a decade. It’s hard to forget the incredible support the team had during that title run, either back home at an incredible watch party or with the fans that traveled with the team across the country to Portland. That extraordinary support helped the Boys in Blue get the championship win across the line.
Campeones Cup Victory
Following New York City FC’s incredible 2021 season and MLS Cup win, our 2022 season brought more success to the club. As reigning MLS Cup champions, the team welcomed Liga MX champions Atlas FC to Yankee Stadium, handily beating them 2-0. It kicked off New York City FC’s impressive end of season form that year, bringing the club to its second straight Eastern Conference Final. It’s these moments that we strive for – winning trophies and rewarding the club’s fans for their commitment and passion, in addition to our players who train tirelessly for moments like that.
Developing New York City’s Talent
One of the main reasons for investing in New York City was a recognition that there’s an immense amount of soccer talent right here on the club’s doorstep. What could be better than having a local player rise through the ranks and represent their home city, in front of our incredibly passionate fans? Since the team’s first MLS game in 2015, nine homegrown talents have made their debuts for New York City. We’re so proud of their progress and their development is a testament to the coaches, sporting staff and families that have invested in their growth since day one.
City in the Community
City in the Community has been the heartbeat of this club. When we launched New York City FC, we made it our commitment to make the sport we love available to as many New Yorkers as possible. Over the course of the past decade, we’ve built more than 50 pitches across the five boroughs, providing safe spaces for young people to play the sport we all love. So far, tens of thousands of children across the city have benefited from the free soccer programming the club has brought to their communities. That includes competing in our flagship annual tournament, the Community Cup, which brings together youth from across the city, competing with pride for their respective neighborhoods. As the club grows and our stadium is built, we’re excited that City in the Community will have its very own headquarters in Etihad Park, enabling us to expand our community programming even further.
Consulate Cup
It turns out one of the best forms of international diplomacy is playing the world’s most popular sport! Three years ago, City in the Community launched the Consulate Cup. The tournament brings together the diplomatic community across New York City and has continued to go from strength-to-strength since its inaugural year, with about 20 countries competing in last year’s competition. 2024 saw Georgia lift the trophy, with Nigeria and Burkina Faso reigning supreme in prior years. With the FIFA World Cup coming to the region in 2026, we’re confident this tournament will continue to showcase the power soccer has globally in bringing together communities.
City Council Stadium Vote
April 11th, 2024 will forever go down as a truly historic day for the club. After years of extraordinary efforts from so many people, the New York City Council overwhelmingly voted in favor of the Willets Point revitalization project, which will see the city’s first ever professional soccer stadium, Etihad Park, built in Queens. That stadium will be the club’s home for decades to come. We’ll always be forever grateful for the support of Queens Councilmember Francisco Moya, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, Community Board 7 in Queens and Mayor Adams’ administration for their commitment to the club’s vision to build this stadium. That overwhelming positive vote means that for years to come, the greatest city on earth and the world’s borough, Queens, will have one of the sport’s most extraordinary soccer venues right on their front doorstep.
Etihad Park Groundbreaking
Just months after that historical City Council vote, on a crisp December day in Queens, shovels finally went into the ground, as the club broke ground on Etihad Park at the end of 2024. The 25,000-seat stadium will not only be the first-ever professional soccer stadium in New York City, but also the first-ever fully electric stadium in Major League Soccer. Moreover, that groundbreaking event represented far more than a new home for the club. Surrounding that stadium plot in Willets Point will be 2,500 new units of affordable housing, in addition to a new school, hotel and acres of green space – generating an estimated $6.1 billion in economic impact over the next 30 years. Come 2027, we’re excited to open the doors to our new stadium and be the centerpiece of what will be a bustling new community in New York City.
Reflecting on a decade and looking forward to the next
As the club’s players, staff and most importantly, our extraordinary fans mark 10 years of growth in New York City FC, we can’t wait to see what the next decade has in stall. With the world’s greatest sporting tournament – the FIFA World Cup – coming to the region, in addition to the completion of the construction of Etihad Park, the city’s first-ever soccer specific stadium, we’re certain the club will continue to leave a lasting and positive legacy in the greatest city on earth.
