New York City FC 1-2 Sporting Kansas City: 4 Thoughts

New York City FC lost 2-1 to Sporting Kansas City in their second of three matches at the 2026 Coachella Valley Invitational, with two KC goals from Calvin Harris and Dejan Joveljić in the first half enough for David Lee's new team to get the win despite a Seymour Reid goal from the penalty spot for New York City.

It was a completely rotated NYCFC Starting XI from what Pascal Jansen deployed during the first Coachella match against LAFC on Sunday, February 8, which ended as a 1-1 draw.

For this midweek match, the lineup was packed with five Homegrown players – Drew Baiera, Kamran Acito, Cooper Flax, Máximo Carrizo, and Seymour Reid. Unsigned non-First Team players like Sebastiano Musu and Luka Sunjic of NYCFC II, plus former MLS SuperDraft pick Arnau Farnos, all also earned starts.

While an assortment of New York City's usual starters entered late in the second half, this was very much a chance for the squad's depth to make cases for minutes in 2026, though it was also notable for giving us our first glimpse of the club's one big signing made this offseason.

Here, then, are four thoughts on New York City's narrow preseason defeat in the California desert.

1. Kai Trewin sees his first minutes