Breaking down the October 2024 schedule for NYCFC

During the last game of September, New York City FC finally ended their winless streak thanks to a fantastic Hudson River Derby win against the New York Red Bulls. The Pigeons won 5-1 in Red Bull Arena after a draw that felt like a win against Inter Miami CF the previous weekend. So, are things starting to turn around? Can the team end the Major League Soccer regular season in style before entering the playoffs?

There are only three more games, and at least two could easily end with all three points. Ideally, they would end up with all nine to have a shot at finishing in fourth place in the Eastern Conference. NYCFC is in fifth at this time, two points behind Orlando City SC. Hopefully, the players will play well for the rest of the year.

The Pigeons should finish in the top seven though, ensuring they go straight into the Round One Best-of-3 Series. That will take place from October 26 through November 10. Currently, there are three games scheduled for October, but likely will have another match. For now, the focus is on the ones that are known. Here is a look at NYCFC's October schedule.

NYCFC's October 2024 schedule

Wednesday, October 2: NYCFC vs FC Cincinnati

The most challenging game this month is against FC Cincinnati. The team from Ohio is in third place and recently has had NYCFC's number. The Pigeons have not beaten them since 2021 and Cincinnati won all three matches in 2023 and so far all of the fixtures this season. Of course, the team from Queens, who sadly will have to play the home game at Red Bull Arena, will still have the Leagues Cup loss in the back of their mind. The Pigeons were up 2-0 in the 79th minute and lost 4-2. Therefore, revenge will probably be on the table.

Sunday, October 6: NYCFC vs Nashville SC

The final home match of the regular season will occur on a rare Sunday. As of today, the fixture is still scheduled to take place at Red Bull Arena. Yankee Stadium will not be available, but there is still some hope, unless one is a Mets fan, that Citi Field could open up. It is a long shot, so supporters should expect NYCFC to host Nashville SC in New Jersey. The team from Music City is four points out of a wildcard spot in 13th and likely will not make the postseason. Since this is the final home fixture, NYCFC must win for the fans.

Saturday, October 19: NYCFC vs CF Montréal

After the international break, NYCFC will play the final game of the regular season in Canada against CF Montréal. The Pigeons do well against Canadian teams and have not lost to Montréal since 2021. They swept the series last year and would love to do the same thing in 2024. The Bronx side would also love to end the regular season on a high before entering the playoffs. However, the Canadian team might be fighting for a playoff spot when Decesion Day arrives. As such, NYCFC must be careful to not overestimate a hungry team.