Last month, New York City FC continued the trend of failing to win on Opening Day with a 1-1 draw away at LA Galaxy. With the Big Apple’s harsh climate during the winter months, the Pigeons have played every Opening Day on the road and have only won twice. But usually, once the squad returns home to christen the new season within their home confines, the record flips on its head.
Across 11 home openers from 2015 to 2025, New York City have a dominant record of 8W-2D-1L, with six clean sheets – five of those are wins. Over those games, the Pigeons have outscored their opponents by 24 goals to seven.
New York City FC | Home Opener Results
The club’s lone loss came in 2024, when a 97th-minute goal from Evander delivered a 2-1 win to Portland Timbers at Yankee Stadium. But even then, the Pigeons have only dropped seven points out of a possible 33 in home openers, while scoring 23 goals and conceding just six.
On that note, let’s look at the five most memorable home openers in New York City history.
Hudson River Blue Staff
Hudson River Blue Staff
5. New York City 1 – 0 Inter Miami
March 11th, 2023
Who doesn’t love a result over the Herons?
For the 2023 home opener against Inter Miami, Santi Rodriguez made his first appearance for the club since returning to the Big Apple as a designated player. He made an immediate impact when his free kick deflected off Miami defender Christopher McVey past goalkeeper Drake Callendar. It was all New York City needed.
0:00
A poor clearance of Santi’s free kick was enough for all three points in the Bronx | newyorkcityfc.com
Gabriel Pereira and Matías Pellegrini had standout performances that night, with the latter seeing a thunderous strike on the volley chalked off for offside. An announced crowd of 24,489 was in attendance at Yankee Stadium, which now seems like a quaint number when compared to the crowds that show up when Inter Miami comes to town. How times have changed.
4. New York City 4 – 1 CF Montréal
March 12th, 2022
Long live the fabled orange MLS match ball, gone but not forgotten.
In 2022, the Pigeons marked their third-straight victory in home openers with an emphatic display vs CF Montréal. Alexander Callens got the party started early, launching a volley into the back of the Montréal net after just seven minutes of action. Santi Rodriguez doubled New York City’s advantage with a tasty chip in the 20th minute, giving the Pigeons a commanding lead going into halftime.
Montréal was able to get one past captain Sean Johnson in goal, courtesy of Zachary Brault-Guillard in the 52nd minute. But then Brazilian starlet Talles Magno headed home in the 64th minute, and substitute Thiago sealed the deal with a coolly-taken strike in the 82nd minute.
Talles Magno even picked up the Player of the Match award for his troubles, after contributing one goal and one assist. He’ll be longing for a similar performance on Saturday.
3. New York City 2 – 1 LA Galaxy
March 11th, 2018
David Villa’s 100th game for the club had The Bronx bouncing to open the 2018 season.
With both New York City and LA Galaxy riding opening night victories to begin the 2018 campaign, this match had all the billing of a box office clash. It delivered. Anton Tinnerholm and Villa both bagged goals midway through the first half, as NYCFC dominated proceedings all afternoon.
Jonahton Dos Santos pulled one back for the Galaxy after 60 minutes, but a late red card from veteran fullback Ashley Cole put a comeback out of reach for Los Angeles as New York City closed out the win.
Tinnerholm picked up the Player of the Match award, but it was Villa who received plaudits from the fans, as 26,221 packed into Yankee Stadium to see the Spaniard mark his 100th appearance the only way he knew how.
2. New York City 5 – 0 FC Cincinnati
April 24th, 2021
Despite a crowd capped at just 9,000 due to the lingering COVID-19 pandemic, it’s safe to say that the 2021 home opener was a historic day for NYCFC.
The 5-0 win over then-perrenal wooden spoon contenders FC Cincinnati was the greatest margin of victory for New York City in club history, home opener or otherwise.
The Pigeons started the match scalding hot: Jesús Medina and Gudi Thórarinsson connected after just minutes for the opening goal, with the former firing home into the roof of the net from a Thórarinsson free kick.
Medina would go on to bag a brace in this contest, while Thórarinsson and talisman Taty Castellanos each picked up goals as well. Castellanos nearly had two on the day, but one of his strikes cannoned off the leg of Cincinnati defender Nick Huggard before hitting the back of the net, and was recorded as an own goal.
1. New York City 2 – 0 New England
March 15th, 2015
Nothing will ever beat the first home game at Yankee Stadium in 2015. It was the perfect introduction between NYCFC and the Big Apple faithful.
An announced crowd of 43,507 fans packed into Yankee Stadium to see the newest MLS expansion franchise, the most for any home opener and the third-highest attendance in club history. Superstar forward David Villa was leading the line, and it took the captain just 19 minutes to score the first New York City goal inside Yankee Stadium, finishing off a lovely one-two from Ned Grabavoy. Villa would then return the favor in the 84th minute, assisting substitute Paul Mullins to put the game to bed.
The atmosphere inside the stadium was electric, more like a sold-out concert than a winter MLS clash. The fans were on their feet all game, and continued the party past the final whistle. The Pigeons will be looking to tap into that atmosphere this Saturday, when they take on Orlando City in the club’s 12th home opener. Kickoff is set for 2:30 pm in the Boogie Down Bronx.
