Everything to know about NYCFC in the 2026 Coachella Valley Invitational

Unless one has not been paying attention to the offseason, New York City FC has played in two preseason games thus far. The first one ended in a 2-2 draw against the Tampa Bay Rowdies. Then, last Sunday, the Boys in Blue took on Austin FC, winning 2-0. Now, the team will play in the Coachella Valley Invitational, or CVI, in which they will play their final three games.

This is the fourth year in a row that the Pigeons will participate in the CVI. While framed like a tournament, truthfully, it is just a way for teams to play friendlies before the upcoming season in one area. However, it can still be valuable for the team since it creates a more competitive environment.

So, what should NYCFC fans know about the upcoming CVI?

NYCFC in the Coachella Valley Invitational

Where is the CVI?

The CVI takes place in Indio, California at the Empire Polo Club. NYCFC will play their games there and train in the area for the remainder of the preseason.

When will the CVI take place? What time?

The Pigeons will play the first match on Sunday, February 8, the second on Wednesday, February 11, and the final one on Saturday, February 14. The start times of the games are at 3:00 PM, 4:30 PM, and 4:00 PM, respectively.

Who will NYCFC face?

NYCFC will play against Los Angeles FC on Sunday, Sporting Kansas City on Wednesday, and the San Jose Earthquakes in the final tune-up before the 2026 season.

Can supporters watch the CVI?

Once again, all three games will be available to watch. Supporters can watch NYCFC through the team's website and YouTube channel. In addition, those in the New York tri-state area can watch on TV via FOX affiliate WWOR-TV, channel 9.

Which players should NYCFC fans watch?

Talles Magno is one of the players to watch since he is trying to regain a spot on the team. How he performs in these three games can determine whether he will be an everyday contributor to start the season.

NYCFC fans should also watch Hannes Wolf. Yes, the winger started most of the matches last year. However, his production declined as the season progressed. In complete honesty, his spot should not be safe and should be up for grabs. The Pigeons need him to at least be a force in the attack, even if it does not lead to goals or assists.

What should fans expect from NYCFC?

The Bronx side has had mixed results in the past. In 2025, the team played four matches and had decent results, going 2-1-1 across the friendlies. As such, fans should expect something similar, but the results should ideally, at a minimum, end with a 1-1-1 record. Of course, winning all of the fixtures would be great.

At the same time, NYCFC already knows that one of the games will be more challenging than the others, and that is the one against LAFC. Kansas City and San Jose failed to make the MLS Cup Playoffs last season, but LAFC did. Plus, the Boys in Blue lost to the California side in regular-season play in 2025.

It is important to recall, though, that NYCFC lost to teams they should have beaten on paper in the previous campaign. That is why the players must treat each game equally, especially as they get closer to the 2026 Major League Soccer season.