FC Cincinnati are back in action midweek after a hard-fought draw over the weekend, and head to New York City to take on NYCFC at Yankee Stadium. This is the first midweek matchup FCC have played this MLS season, but they are more than familiar with the routine in 2026 after playing in the Concacaf Champions Cup earlier this year. 

While results have not been going FC Cincinnati’s way of late, they have earned points in three of their last four games and have started to show some offensive improvements they’re looking to build on.

“I've been more pleased in the last two games with some of the overall play, despite those results not being what we like,” Noonan said Tuesday before the team headed to New York. “Just looking at the performances, the attacking side of play was – against Chicago – I think was outstanding. I think our transition to attack was also very strong and had us in some good spots. I think the speed in which we attacked was better than we've seen, created a bunch of chances, and still could have found a late goal or two, so I was pleased with that.” 

“Then in the Toronto game, I thought defensively we were better and had a couple good looks and then lost our discipline, and that affected how the game ended, so, play wise, there've been a lot of positives but now that needs to translate into the wins. Which I think we all know and I try to emphasize the importance of that along the way, but, I've been more pleased in the last two games with some of the overall play, despite those results not being what we like.”

The trip to New York City means another opportunity to earn points on the road. At Yankee Stadium, though, the match will be played on a narrower field than anywhere else. That factor is something that FCC is familiar with, having played against NYCFC several times before, but it’s still something the team is aware of and is part of the preparations. 

“I think (NYCFC) are a really strong team. I think they’re structurally sound on both sides of the ball. I think they have a really good way of inviting and playing under pressure…there's not, there's not a lot of holes when you watch them as far as the games we've analyzed,” Noonan said of their opponents this week. 

“We’ve focused more on the games on the baseball fields,” Noonan continued. “Because it does look a little different. So, while structurally things might look the same, how does the speed of play look? And pressure is going to arrive quicker, you have to be better on one and two touches. They do a good job of stepping up to the ball and making it difficult.”

FC Cincinnati take on NYCFC this Wednesday night before returning home to host another New York club, Red Bull New York, on Saturday at TQL Stadium. Capping off a full week of NYC/NJ opponent action for the Orange and Blue.

FC Cincinnati at New York City FC – Saturday, April 22, 2026 – 7:30 p.m. ET – Yankee Stadium

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History vs NYCFC

FC Cincinnati and New York City FC are set for their 20th all-time meeting when the two sides kickoff Wednesday at Yankee Stadium. In the MLS Era, the Orange and Blue have only played Columbus Crew (20) and Red Bull New York (20) more than NYCFC.

Five of those meetings have come in non-regular season play or in other cup competition, more than against any other club. The Orange and Blue played a three-match playoff series against NYCFC in 2024 and earned wins against the Pigeons in Leagues Cup (Group Stage, 2024) and U.S. Open Cup (Round of 32, 2023) play.

FC CINCINNATI NOTES

(Courtesy of *FC Cincinnati Communications*)

Midweek Warriors – FC Cincinnati will take the field for the 51st time on a Wednesday during Matchday 9 action against New York. FC Cincinnati are unbeaten over their last eight Wednesday fixtures - which includes MLS and Concacaf Champions Cup competition - with six wins over that span.

Debuts – Forward Kenji Mboma Dem picked up his first career MLS start this past Saturday against Chicago. It has been a week of debut moments for the Frenchmen after Mboma Dem scored his first career MLS goal against Toronto FC back on April 11.

Mboma Dem has made two starts over nine appearances across all competitions in 2026 and has three goals and one assist to his name.

100 IN SIGHT – Pavel Bucha and Matt Miazga continue to close in on the 100-appearance mark for FC Cincinnati. Bucha, who played 90 minutes against the Fire, made his 97th appearance for the Orange and Blue, while Miazga has 96 following his start against Toronto a week and a half ago.

Evander! – Evander scored his first goal of the 2026 MLS Regular Season Saturday night against Chicago Fire FC. The goal marks Evander’s 43rd in MLS and ties Wélton (1996-2000: NE, LA, MIA) for the most goals scored by a Brazilian-born player, all-time, in MLS.

The goal also brings Evander to 44 goal contributions for the Orange and Blue (23G, 21A), across all competitions. Evander moves level with Emmanuel Ledesma for the fourth-most goal contributions in the club’s history. Evander moves past Ledesma, and Danni König, into fifth for the most goals scored for the Orange and Blue.

Scouting New York City FC (3-3-2, 11 Points, 7th Eastern Conference, W-L-T-L-L)

After an undefeated start to the 2026 MLS season, winning three of their first four after a draw in the season opener, New York City Football Club have not earned a win in its last four matches and effectively flipped the script on that strong start. With three losses and a draw, NYCFC have not won since March 14 when they took down the Colorado Rapids and have lost to Inter Miami, Vancouver Whitecaps and Charlotte FC since.

FC Cincinnati now travel to the Bronx to take on NYCFC for the first time in 2026 as both sides look for a win to break their current streaks. This match, hosted at Yankee Stadium, is the first at the venue for the Orange and Blue since May 21, 2023, when FCC won 3-1.

The New York Club, who is on the verge of opening its own venue in New York City, currently splits time between two primary home venues, Yankee Stadium and Citi Field. This season, NYCFC are 2-1-0 at Yankee Stadium, 0-1-1 at Citi Field and 1-1-1 on the road.

Led by top goal scorer Nico Fernández, NYCFC have been one of the top offensive sides in Major League Soccer this season; ranking in the top 10 of goals scored and top 5 in total shots on target. Fernandez, a 26-year-old attacking midfielder, has tallied six goals already this season, including one in their most recent game against Charlotte FC. The Argentine joined the  side at the end of 2025 and appeared in 11 matches after arriving from La Liga side Elche CF.

"You see his versatility, just how they've been utilizing him. I think his work rates outstanding. Does a good job of finding space in front of back lines, I think he works well with [Maxi] Morales when he's in open space," FC Cincinnati Head Coach Pat Noonan said of Fernández. "I think he does a good job of advancing with the ball at speed. Excellent shot accuracy from distance. Power. Scored a great goal the other day, but yeah, the combination that he has with Morales centrally and how the wingers have looked, and giving them some width, but allowing those guys to operate more centrally, I think they just have a really good connection with that front four, if you will. With [Agustin] Ojeda and with [Hannes] Wolf. So, yeah, he's been very impressive."

The universal constant for New York this season has been Kevin O’Toole, who has played every minute of every match this season. The New Jersey native is in his fifth season with the club, and has been a staunch defender for them in his 88 appearances. He starts at left back for the side.

With him on the defensive line is Designated Player center back Thiago Martins, who is also in his fifth season with the club and has logged over 25 league appearances in all of them to this point. Martins is a Brazilian-born defender who made a name for himself in his native Brazil and Japan before coming to Major League Soccer.

In net for New York is another star in Matt Freese, who, of late, has become the goalkeeper of choice for the United States Men’s National Team and is off to another hot start in Major League Soccer. The keeper is in his third year as starter for NYCFC, and in 2025, the Pennsylvania native was named a Finalist for MLS Goalkeeper of the Year.

At the helm of the club is Dutch manager Pascal Jansen, now in his second season as Head Coach. In his first full year, NYCFC finished fifth in the Eastern Conference with 56 points. Against Charlotte last weekend Jansen lined his side up in a 4-3-3 formation.