Pascal Jansen is right: NYCFC has been hurt by the self-inflicted wounds

New York City FC is not in the best spot with just a few months to go in the 2026 Major League Soccer regular season. The team is in seventh place in the Eastern Conference with a 7-8-7 record. With 28 points and 12 games to go, it is very likely that the Pigeons will end the campaign with fewer points compared to the 56 points in the 2025 season. Sadly, the Bronx side is responsible.

Head Coach Pascal Jansen has often mentioned the self-inflicted errors or defeats that NYCFC has suffered. It was even mentioned during the last Apple TV broadcast of the Toronto FC match. The Pigeons drop points because of silly mistakes or defensive blunders way too often. When one watches the players, it is clear that they are more talented than the record suggests.

Instead, NYCFC is considered an average team in the league this year. The injuries throughout the campaign have not helped. However, the available roster is still strong, so it is somewhat shocking that the Pigeons do not sit in the top four.

But again, the self-inflicted errors and defeats have led to self-inflicted wounds. NYCFC is solely responsible for losing out on 10-15 points.

NYCFC could be better

The way this was calculated was based on a few items. First, it is vital to look at games where points were dropped. This could be a match that NYCFC should have held on to a draw or one that should have ended with all three points. Then, there were a couple of games that the Bronx side should have won because they were either the better side or had the momentum at the end of the game.

Take the home opener. The LA Galaxy played down a man for about half of the second half. Plus, NYCFC had the momentum towards the end of the match. They should have found that second goal and called it a night.

Meanwhile, the two most notable fixtures where points were dropped were the matches against FC Cincinnati and the Philadelphia Union at home. The Boys in Blue had the lead in both, but finished the games in a draw and a loss, respectively. The Cincinnati draw was extremely disappointing, as both goals to tie the match were given up at the end.

Now, NYCFC is in the middle of another winless streak in MLS. Looking back at the first one from earlier in the season, there was the question of whether it was just a bad streak or whether the team was not as good as they should be. The answer at the time was complex, as it could be both. But after watching the team throughout the season, it is clear they are better than their results.

So, what does the math say? As mentioned, NYCFC dropped anywhere from 10 to 15 points. 10 more points would have put the Pigeons in third place with 38 points. If they had 15 more, then they would be in second place with 43. In other words, these self-inflicted wounds have really hurt their season.

Truthfully, teams will make mistakes. Keeping about half of the games that should have ended in a draw or a win would have helped the Pigeons. For record purposes, note that the following games were utilized: LA, St. Louis City SC, Charlotte FC at home, Philadelphia, both Cincinnati meetings, and the road game against Toronto FC.

If NYCFC had won in LA, held on to the win against Cincinnati that ended in a draw, and won against Philadelphia, then they would have had seven more points, and they would be in fifth place with 35 points based on having one more win compared to Charlotte FC.

Imagine if the Bronx side had a 10-7-5 record or a 13-6-4 record. Either would have been possible if it were not for self-inflicted errors. Moreover, with the injuries, the 10-7-5 record would look decent. Instead, NYCFC has to look back at the points dropped and wonder whether things should have been different. Newsflash: it should be.

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