The Designated Players | An MLS Podcast · Andrew Barnikel, Connor Wright

Episode 442: A Not So Deep Dive Into NYCFC's 2026 Season ft The City Boys Show!

·28 min·2 clips

NYCFC's deal for Musa Sila fell through after discovering a prior knee injury, enraging fans.

This episode previews New York City FC's 2026 MLS season with host Andrew from The Designated Players and guest Javier from the City Boys Show. Andrew supports the rival New York Red Bulls, while Javier is a dedicated NYCFC fan and podcaster. The conversation begins by reviewing NYCFC's 2025 season, where they finished fifth and reached the Eastern Conference Final under first-year coach Pascal Jansen. Key losses included a US Open Cup exit to Pittsburgh and a League's Cup group stage exit, while the playoff run ended with a 5-1 loss to Inter Miami after injuries to Alonso Martínez and Andrés Perea. The hosts discuss the quiet offseason, highlighting the departure of versatile defender Justin Haak to LA and his replacement, Australian defender Kai Trewin. They analyze the re-signing of veteran Maxi Moralez and the failed transfer of striker Musa Sila from Shakhtar Donetsk due to a last-minute medical concern. Javier identifies defender Raúl Gustavo and the overall defensive depth as major question marks following Haak's exit. He names DP winger Nicolás Fernández, who joined mid-2025, as a breakout candidate poised to lead the attack, especially with Martínez injured. The hosts also discuss 18-year-old homegrown striker Jovan Mijatović, noting his potential and record as the club's youngest scorer. A significant subplot is the return of Talles Magno from loan, with concern that he might be misused as a striker again, a move that previously hindered his performance. Javier predicts NYCFC will finish between fourth and sixth in the Eastern Conference, citing a tough division but trust in goalkeeper Matt Freese. Andrew agrees, placing them in the five-to-seven range, noting injuries and the missed Sila transfer as limiting factors. The tone is conversational and lightly competitive, fueled by the hosts' friendly club rivalry. The style is informational, blending season analysis with specific player evaluations and transfer news. MLS fans, particularly NYCFC supporters and those following Eastern Conference dynamics, will appreciate this detailed team preview. Listeners who prefer deep tactical analysis or narratives beyond roster construction might find the "not so deep dive" format too surface-level.

As heard by us

A brisk NYCFC preview that turns roster churn and rivalry talk into a clear fan conversation.

The episode is a sharp NYCFC 2026 preview, and Javier from The City Boys Show gives it a useful outside angle. The rivalry talk has the most energy, and the roster chatter feels timely rather than generic.

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Why you'd press play

You want a 2026 NYCFC preview from a rival-household conversation.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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