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It is a short turnaround for New York City FC as the Boys in Blue just played on Thursday against Club Santos Laguna, S.A. de C.V., which ended in a 2-0 win. Now, the team will play their second Leagues Cup fixture against Cruz Azul S.A. de C.V., a powerhouse side in Liga MX. The Mexican team finished third place in both the Apertura and Clausura of the 2025-2026 season, and won the final phase of the Clausura, which is like the postseason.
Hence, this will be the most difficult game of the Leagues Cup for NYCFC. If Head Coach Pascal Jansen wants to try to win, then he should start his best players who are available. But when all is said and done, the injuries should be enough to not worry about the tournament. Rather, just use this match and the next to continue rotating players, playing a mix of the youth, those who barely start, and some of the regulars.
After all, it worked in the first game against Santos. However, the team has struggled over the last few years, so in truth, the Pigeons should have won that game, and they did. But Cruz Azul is not Santos. The players are extremely talented, and the club historically has been one of the better sides in Liga MX. And as fans know, teams basically have to win all their games and often must score multiple goals to move on to the knockout rounds. So, the likelihood of moving on in the Leagues Cup is very low.
NYCFC must focus on the bigger picture. They need as many players as possible to come back from the injury list, but also keep everyone else healthy. The team has to keep winning games, but the energy should be towards Major League Soccer. Sure, they must play the game. But is it worth the risk to actually go for it?
How to watch NYCFC vs Cruz Azul and more
Date
Time
7:30 PM ET
How to watch on TV and streaming
Streaming on Apple TV and on TV via FS1
How to listen
newyorkcityfc.com/radio or via the NYCFC app
How to watch in person
Again, fans must head to Sports Illustrated Stadium for the Leagues Cup.
How to follow
If NYCFC supporters cannot watch or listen to the game, then they can follow along via MLS Soccer’s timeline and NYCFC’s X account. Additionally, the club will post updates here and there on Facebook.
Final notes
It would be nice for the Bronx side to play a few of their Homegrown players who do not normally play for the experience aspect of the Leagues Cup. Getting minutes against a team like Cruz Azul might be beneficial for some of the younger NYCFC players.
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