Breaking down the July 2026 schedule for NYCFC as MLS resumes the season

Major League Soccer is officially back, and the 2026 FIFA World Cup is about to come to a close. Sunday is the day of the finals, and afterward, fans around the world will be focusing on their club teams. New York City FC fans will do the same for the Pigeons.

It has been a long break since the last match with the team was on May 23, falling in a road loss to Nashville SC. In fact, the team finished up the first half in a position they did not want to be in. They are currently in eighth place in the Eastern Conference standings, going through a seven-game winless span after a solid start to the season. NYCFC then had highs and lows through the lead-up to the MLS break, and really could use a changing of the tides as the second half begins.

There are still plenty of questions and unknowns based on injuries. Returning players and new signings should help the squad, but there are also lingering rumors circulating around star Nicolás Fernández Mercau. The Boys in Blue have seen some shocking summer transfers before, so who knows what will happen.

In the meantime, MLS is back, and NYCFC will resume the season with a midweek battle. In fact, all of the July games will be on different days, which is a rarity these days in MLS. Therefore, here is a look at the upcoming schedule.

NYCFC's July 2026 schedule

Wednesday, May 22: NYCFC at Columbus Crew

Before the break, the Boys in Blue faced the Columbus Crew twice: once in MLS, the match that ended the winless streak, and the other in the U.S. Open Cup, in which the Ohio team knocked NYCFC out of the tournament. And now, they will play against them in the first game back. Using the previous matches, it is difficult to pinpoint which way the result will go. Plus, both teams might be a little rusty due to the long break. Nonetheless, fans can look forward to this game since MLS is back!

Saturday, July 25: NYCFC vs Chicago Fire FC

The first home match will be at Yankee Stadium, and NYCFC will welcome Chicago Fire FC to the Bronx. This will also be a big game since Robert Lewandowski will be playing with the Fire, for he is their new star signing. The Polish striker is still one of the top scorers in the world, so this easily elevates the difficulty level of the game. The Pigeons will have to be their best defensively. Otherwise, they might suffer another awful home loss.

Friday, July 31: NYCFC vs Toronto FC

NYCFC will end July with a rare Friday evening fixture. This will be a great way to start the weekend, especially since this will be another home game. And, on paper, this is a meeting that NYCFC should win, for Toronto FC continues to struggle in MLS. The Canadian side has not been one that MLS fans have been used to seeing over the past years. With the possibility of losing to Chicago the weekend before, NYCFC must win this game. Losing is not an option. The good news is that the Boys in Blue won all of their meetings in 2024 and 2025, so ideally, that trend will continue.

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