Matthew Mangam, a Rutgers alum, is a Senior Writer for New York Soccer Journal.
New York City FC fell behind, pulled back level with the Liga MX champions shortly before halftime, but suffered their first loss post-World Cup when José Paradela scored a late, deflected winner for Cruz Azul.
Cruz Azul just opened Leagues Cup with a win in Philadelphia, and the recent winners of the Campeón de Campeones also feature numerous dangerous attacking options and a midfield anchored by a starter for Mexico during the 2026 World Cup.
A much-changed New York City lineup got past Santos Laguna at Sports Illustrated Stadium thanks to second-half goals from Tayvon Gray and Nico Cavallo, plus a six-save shutout from Matt Freese.
The Liga MX club based in Torreón enters its Leagues Cup opener against New York City FC with a new coach, a rebuilt backline, and a sputtering attack.
A long-distance strike from Leeds' Lukas Nmecha in the eighth minute proved the difference in a 1-0 win in front of a light Thursday night crowd in Harrison, New Jersey.
Toronto needs its Designated Player attackers, Josh Sargent and Djordje Mihailovic, to produce like DPs if they're going to snap their 11-match MLS winless streak.
42,204 fans packed Yankee Stadium to watch Andoni Iraola's Liverpool FC earn a late 1-0 win over Wrexham AFC in a preseason friendly.
"Anything they’re saying to me on the field, I can guarantee you I’ve said worse at Eagles games," Freese said of some of the reactions he's received since his World Cup run with the United States ended.
The Chicago Fire proved no match for a New York City FC attack led by Nico Fernández Mercau, Agustín Ojeda, and Malachi Jones.
Robert Lewandowski is in, MLS Golden Boot leader Hugo Cuypers is out, but Chicago will need its defense to clean up the mistakes if they want to get a result at Yankee Stadium.
NYCFC's win in Columbus showed that the club still has attacking weapons to rely on while its new Designated Player, Bénie Traoré, acclimates to his new league and team.
The Crew sold Diego Rossi and new summer reinforcements like defender Eric Bailly and forward Brais Méndez have yet to arrive, so Laurent Courtois will hope for his team to defend and control possession against NYCFC.
The World Cup final in East Rutherford, New Jersey became an elaborate spectacle, with a closing ceremony, a star-studded halftime show, and then another awkward trophy lift stage-crashed by US President Donald Trump.
Freese said his error leading to Belgium's third goal "stings more than probably any other moment in my life," but his solid track record for his country and at club level shouldn't be forgotten.
The hottest game played so far at the World Cup took place in Philadelphia on the Fourth of July, as France kept its cool and handled Paraguay's chippy, defensive approach in a tense 1-0 win.
"I'm just thinking about how I can help my team be here on July 19 in the final," Kylian Mbappé said after setting the record for most career goals scored in the World Cup knockout rounds.
