Please do not vote for NYCFC players for the 2025 MLS All-Star Game

It is that time of the year. New York City FC and other Major League Soccer fans can vote for their favorite players to be in the MLS All-Star Game. The match will take place in Austin this year, and the MLS All-Stars will again play the best of the best from Liga MX.

While NYCFC fans might be inclined to vote for their players, this is actually a good year for supporters not to vote. In fact, please do not vote for any of the Pigeons to play in the MLS All-Star Game. Doing so would do more harm than good.

NYCFC players should not go to the MLS All-Star Game

Admittedly, quite a few fans already feel that the game is a waste for MLS players. There is nothing that makes it worthy other than the recognition that one was either voted by fans or chosen by the coach for the team. When all is said and done, it is truly a waste of a match. Understandably, it is a part of American sports. It is different, though, with soccer.

There is a bigger risk of injury. Plus, the season can already get congested, as seen with NYCFC's busy May. Having to play an extra third or even half of a fixture adds to those minutes.

Those reasons are good enough for supporters of the Bronx side to forgo voting for the Pigeons. But this season, there is another big reason why they should not vote: NYCFC's thin roster. The team lacks roster depth and cannot afford to risk any of their star players, like Matt Freese or Alonso Martínez.

Sure, it will take place in the summer, and ideally, more players will join the Boys in Blue. However, fans should handle the voting as if the Pigeons will not add anyone.

In addition, NYCFC needs everyone because the team needs to have a great summer where they move up the table in the Eastern Conference. After the draw with Nashville SC, the Boys in Blue currently sit in ninth place, which is the last spot of the play-in game for the playoffs. Again, the risk of playing in a meaningless match is too great.

Notably, NYCFC players could be chosen by All-Star head coach Nico Estévez or be one of the two chosen by Don Garber. But at the very least, fans can do their part to ensure that the players are not voted in.

So, please, do not vote for the NYCFC players. The All-Star Game will not help them this year. The Pigeons must be protected, and hopefully, nobody will be chosen via the other ways, too.