Oliver Strand

Big Bird made the fewest appearances and played the fewest minutes since he ascended to the First Team in 2019. We can only guess how many goals involvements – and wins – he would have contributed to this New York City FC squad in 2025.

With the 2026 MLS SuperDraft set to take place later this afternoon, here are 5 thoughts about NYCFC's history with the selection process.

The 18-year-old had the most impressive Homegrown debut season in club history, and the strongest year for a teenager at New York City FC since a 19-year-old Jack Harrison had 10 goal involvements in 2016.

The 17-year-old wasn't supposed to be here: He signed with NYCFC II, not New York City FC. But the striker earned a spot on the First Team — and became the youngest goal-scorer in club history.

David Lee did some of the best business in his NYCFC career just before leaving, bringing in Nico Fernández Mercau and Aiden O'Neill, and signing Matt Freese to an extension. But he let Justin Haak slip away, and Jovan Mijatović and Talles Magno are still on the club's books.

While MLS attendance overall shrank by 5.36% in 2025, NYCFC's grew for the fourth consecutive year to average 21,853 per match — that's the highest since 2018.

It's time for me to step away from Hudson River Blue.

They can shake off those winter doldrums by hunting for Easter eggs, running the bases at Brooklyn Cyclones’ ballpark or gliding down Slide Hill on Governors Island.

Harvest the fruits of the local ice cream scene, celebrate the World Cup and the nation’s birthday, and enjoy a variety of diversions outdoors.

This past Friday, August 7, marked the release of Tony , Matthew Johnson's sketch of a young Anthony Bourdain (played with an appealing mix of