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It has been a bumpy road for New York City FC over the last few weeks. The Pigeons played a brilliant defensive match that was also poor offensively, leading to a 0-0 draw with the Columbus Crew. Then, they were fantastic in the attack against Atlanta United FC but lost 4-3 due to defensive blunders. Finally, last week they had a pitiful effort in the final third and the team lost 2-1 to Minnesota United FC.
Things do not get easier, for the Pigeons will face the Philadelphia Union next. NYCFC beat them on the road last year, which was an odd season where the Union did not make the playoffs. However, they lost terribly in the home fixture, which was the last time the teams met. Therefore, there are questions about whether the Queens side can beat the Pennsylvania side, especially this season since they are playing better and currently sit in third place in the Eastern Conference.
However, the difference between this year and the last for NYCFC is that Pascal Jansen is in charge, and he is not lackadaisical with his coaching. This was seen last week when he made first-half substitutions. Based on his press conferences and his actions when managing games, it appears he has higher standards with what the Pigeons put on the pitch.
While beating Philadelphia will be a challenging task, there is one positive: the Boys in Blue will not have to worry about Dániel Gazdag. At least, that is the expected case since reports are saying that he is heading to the Columbus Crew via the cash for players transaction method. That would be one less Union star to worry about. But NYCFC still needs their big-name players like Alonso Martínez and Maxi Moralez to play their best.
How to watch, time, and more of NYCFC’s game against Philadelphia
Date
Time
7:30 PM ET, with an expected kickoff at 7:40 PM ET
How to watch on TV and streaming
MLS Season Pass via Apple TV
How to watch in person
Fans can head to Citi Field for the first time this season
How to listen
newyorkcityfc.com/radio or via the NYCFC app
How to follow
If NYCFC fans 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 Bluesky and Facebook.
Final Notes
As mentioned, this is the first game at Citi Field for the 2025 season. The club is hosting a fan fest that will begin at 5:00 PM. If it is like those from the past, then there will be family-friendly fun. Supporters should aim to arrive earlier before NYCFC takes on Philadelphia.