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NYCFC vs Orlando City SC preview: Multiple goals are in order

Recent games make it feel like it is impossible for NYCFC to win, especially when they play Orlando City SC. Here is a preview of the game.
ByCaitlyn Chale
Kevin O'Toole of NYCFC
Kevin O'Toole of NYCFC | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The second-to-last road game of the season is this weekend, and 12th-place New York City FC will face seventh-place Orlando City SC.  The Pigeons need a win, but the expectation is that they will not come home with three points.  Rather, a draw or a loss is more likely, especially since they have dropped points way too often in 2026.

Funny enough, when the Boys in Blue last played the Lions, there was hope about the season.  They had just beaten the Philadelphia Union away from home before returning for the season’s home opener, and it felt like the squad could win.  But nobody expected a 5-0 thrashing of Orlando, and that match was the best one of the year.  Plus, it made fans feel like they would be okay without a starting striker, and that the Pigeons could compete.

Alas, the solid start to the season was a mirage.  Struggling to play the full 90 minutes and making mistakes are why NYCFC is not higher up the table.  The strong roster, regardless of the injuries, makes 2026 such a puzzling campaign.  It also makes it easy to enter the remaining games with a negative attitude.  The only way for the team to win would be to repeat what happened in the last meeting, but scoring multiple goals also seems impossible.

The Bronx side still needs to play.  Here is a preview of NYCFC’s game against Orlando City SC. 

NYCFC vs Orlando City preview

Date

NYCFC and Orlando will play on Saturday, October 24.

Time

The fixture will begin at 7:30 PM ET.

Location

The game will take place at Inter.co Stadium in Orlando, Florida.

How to watch

The match can be seen on Apple TV.

Weather

It will be around 73 degrees when the game begins.  There is a chance of rain later that night, but for the most part, it will be partly cloudy.  The wind will be around 13 mph, and the humidity will be above 70%.

Injury report

Drew Baiera (leg), Arnau Farnós (leg), Maxi Moralez (leg), Keaton Parks (leg), and Kai Trewin (leg) remain out for the Boys in Blue.

Players to watch

NYCFC fans should watch Kevin O’Toole and Nico Cavallo.  Who will start as the left-back?  Both players have started at times, but more recently, Cavallo was Pascal Jansen’s first-choice player.  O’Toole started against Los Angeles FC, but before then, Cavallo started the last five matches.  Both have been good for the Pigeons, but neither is considered to be a top left-back in the league.  When all is said and done, the one who should start should be the one who is best suited for the Florida fixture.

Then, Antoine Griezmann is the one to watch on Orlando City.  The forward has already scored 12 goals in 14 games and has made a difference to the purple side’s season.  He has improved the offense immensely, and it would not be shocking if he scores against the Bronx team.

Prediction

NYCFC needs to win and wants to win, but will they win?  Sadly, the answer is no.  The Boys in Blue will lose 2-1, but will be the better team for most of the match.  A late goal will be their undoing, and once again, fans will be frustrated with the players.

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