%20%20--%3E%0A%3Csvg%20version%3D%221.1%22%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20xmlns%3Axlink%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F1999%2Fxlink%22%20x%3D%220px%22%20y%3D%220px%22%0A%09%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201969.7%20200%22%20style%3D%22enable-background%3Anew%200%200%201969.7%20200%3B%22%20xml%3Aspace%3D%22preserve%22%3E%0A%3Cstyle%20type%3D%22text%2Fcss%22%3E%0A%09.st0%7Bfill%3A%23231F20%3B%7D%0A%09.st1%7Bfill%3A%23283B4B%3B%7D%0A%09.st2%7Bfill%3A%2369ACE5%3B%7D%0A%09.st3%7Bfill%3A%23FFFFFF%3B%7D%0A%09.st4%7Bopacity%3A0.3%3B%7D%0A%09.st5%7Bfill-rule%3Aevenodd%3Bclip-rule%3Aevenodd%3Bfill%3A%23283B4B%3B%7D%0A%09.st6%7Bfill%3A%2374A3BA%3B%7D%0A%09.st7%7Bfill-rule%3Aevenodd%3Bclip-rule%3Aevenodd%3Bfill%3A%2374A3BA%3B%7D%0A%09.st8%7Bopacity%3A0.8%3B%7D%0A%09.st9%7Bfill-rule%3Aevenodd%3Bclip-rule%3Aevenodd%3Bfill%3A%2369ACE5%3B%7D%0A%3C%2Fstyle%3E%0A%3Cg%20id%3D%22Template%22%3E%0A%3C%2Fg%3E%0A%3Cg%20id%3D%22Layer_2%22%3E%0A%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st2%22%20d%3D%22M1867.7%2C57.1c0-5.8%2C4.7-8%2C11.9-8c16.9%2C0%2C47.2%2C11.9%2C66.9%2C22.7l23.3-48.8c-21.9-13.9-53.8-23-84.6-23%0A%09%09c-50.5%2C0-83.2%2C24.4-83.2%2C63.2c0%2C68.2%2C100.7%2C51.6%2C100.7%2C76.8c0%2C6.9-6.1%2C10-15.5%2C10c-19.7%2C0-54.1-13.6-74.1-30.2l-15.5%2C31.4v-2.8%0A%09%09h-102.6v-24.1h91V75.4h-91V51.6H1795V2.8h-156.1h-8.3h-56v112.1c0%2C19.4-12.2%2C31.6-28%2C31.6c-16.1%2C0-30-12.5-30-31.6V2.8h-64.4v112.1%0A%09%09c0%2C10.4%2C1.5%2C20%2C4.4%2C28.8h-77.1V2.8h-64.4v35.1c-8.1-21.6-38.6-35.1-77.6-35.1h-98.5l3%2C194.5h103.2c32.8%2C0%2C57.7-10.2%2C69.9-27.6v27.6%0A%09%09h145.4v-43.8c14%2C29.1%2C44.9%2C46.6%2C85.7%2C46.6c40.4%2C0%2C70.5-17.3%2C84.3-46.1v43.3h167v-23.3c25.2%2C16.1%2C58.7%2C25.3%2C89%2C25.3%0A%09%09c43.8%2C0%2C81.8-19.1%2C81.8-62.4C1968.3%2C66.3%2C1867.7%2C81.6%2C1867.7%2C57.1z%20M1203.2%2C49.9h30.8c8.9%2C0%2C17.7%2C5.3%2C17.7%2C13.6%0A%09%09c0%2C8.6-8.8%2C14.1-17.7%2C14.1h-30.8V49.9z%20M1236.9%2C150.1h-30.8l-3-29.7h30.8c11.9%2C0%2C22.7%2C5.5%2C22.7%2C14.1%0A%09%09C1256.6%2C144%2C1248.9%2C150.1%2C1236.9%2C150.1z%20M1284.9%2C93.5c14.8-4.5%2C25.6-14.6%2C30.2-27.4v47.8C1308.4%2C103.8%2C1297.9%2C96.4%2C1284.9%2C93.5z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st3%22%20d%3D%22M1143.2%2C122.9c13.5-8.2%2C20.8-22.5%2C20.8-41.6c0-30-20.4-47-56-47h-59.5h-3.9H940.4v22.8%0A%09%09c-8.1-14.7-24.7-22.8-48.1-22.8h-61.6v117.4L783%2C34.4h-44.6l-53.1%2C125.8l-22.5-37.2c13.5-8.2%2C20.8-22.5%2C20.8-41.6%0A%09%09c0-30-20.4-47-56-47h-63.5v17.3c-13.5-11.5-32.3-18.6-49.8-18.6c-41.2%2C0-71.2%2C28.1-71.2%2C66.7c0%2C0.7%2C0%2C1.4%2C0%2C2.1%0A%09%09C425.4%2C80.4%2C383%2C84.1%2C383%2C71.1c0-3.9%2C3.2-5.4%2C8.1-5.4c11.4%2C0%2C31.8%2C8.1%2C45.1%2C15.4l15.7-33c-14.8-9.4-36.3-15.5-57.1-15.5%0A%09%09c-16.5%2C0-30.1%2C3.9-39.9%2C10.8l4.7-9h-43.3l-25.5%2C50.6l-26.4-50.6h-16h-1.7h-20.8h-3h-21.5l-39.1%2C45.5V34.4h-43.4v11.9%0A%09%09c-14.6-8.4-34.6-13.8-54.1-13.8C30.7%2C32.5%2C8.6%2C49%2C8.6%2C75.2c0%2C46.1%2C68%2C34.8%2C68%2C51.9c0%2C4.7-4.1%2C6.7-10.5%2C6.7%0A%09%09c-13.3%2C0-36.5-9.2-50-20.4L0%2C146c17.4%2C13.3%2C42.9%2C21%2C65.7%2C21c24.6%2C0%2C46.5-9%2C53.1-28.8v27.5h43.4v-30.9l12.7-14.2l27.3%2C45.1h51.9%0A%09%09l-49.6-78.5l27.8-31.4l36.7%2C70v39.9h43.4v-40.8l26.1-50.2c0%2C0.2%2C0%2C0.4%2C0%2C0.5c0%2C46.1%2C68%2C34.8%2C68%2C51.9c0%2C4.7-4.1%2C6.7-10.5%2C6.7%0A%09%09c-13.3%2C0-36.5-9.2-50-20.4L330%2C146c17.4%2C13.3%2C42.9%2C21%2C65.7%2C21c27.3%2C0%2C51.2-11%2C54.7-35.6c11.1%2C22%2C33.9%2C36.2%2C62.2%2C36.2%0A%09%09c17.8%2C0%2C37.1-8%2C51.5-20.7v18.8h43.4v-34.1h16.3l15.7%2C34.1H683h5.6h38.9l6.7-18.5h49.2l6.6%2C18.5h40.6h5.6h37.8v-34.1h18.2%0A%09%09c23.4%2C0%2C40-8.7%2C48.1-24.4v58.5h107.1h5.6h37.8v-34.1h16.3l15.7%2C34.1h49.1L1143.2%2C122.9z%20M118.8%2C111.7C107.4%2C79.1%2C53%2C85.8%2C53%2C71.1%0A%09%09c0-3.9%2C3.2-5.4%2C8.1-5.4c11.4%2C0%2C31.8%2C8.1%2C45.1%2C15.4l12.7-26.5V111.7z%20M564.1%2C135.3l-19.5-20.8c-8.6%2C9.2-20.4%2C15-29.8%2C15%0A%09%09c-15.7%2C0-27.1-12.7-27.1-30.3c0-17.4%2C11.4-30%2C27.1-30c10.1%2C0%2C21.9%2C6.9%2C29.8%2C17.6l19.5-23.1V135.3z%20M627.6%2C98.6h-20V67.3h20%0A%09%09c9.4%2C0%2C14.8%2C5.6%2C14.8%2C15.4C642.4%2C92.8%2C636.9%2C98.6%2C627.6%2C98.6z%20M745.5%2C116l13.9-38.4l13.5%2C38.4H745.5z%20M890.1%2C98.6h-15.9V67.3h15.9%0A%09%09c9.4%2C0%2C14.8%2C5.6%2C14.8%2C15.4C904.9%2C92.8%2C899.4%2C98.6%2C890.1%2C98.6z%20M983.9%2C132.7v-16.3h48.3l0.7-33h-49V67.3h60.6l3%2C65.3H983.9z%0A%09%09%20M1108%2C98.6h-20V67.3h20c9.4%2C0%2C14.8%2C5.6%2C14.8%2C15.4C1122.8%2C92.8%2C1117.3%2C98.6%2C1108%2C98.6z%22%2F%3E%0A%3C%2Fg%3E%0A%3C%2Fsvg%3E%0A)
NYCFC vs Charlotte FC preview: MLS Opening Day 2024 is here
- NYCFC will take on Charlotte FC on MLS Opening Day
- Here is a preview of the upcoming fixture
2023 was not a good year for New York City FC. The team finished the season in 11th place, subsequently missing the playoffs for the first time since 2015. It is not a year with too many highlights, and everyone would like to close that book and open a new one.
Thankfully, the 2024 Major League Soccer season is finally here. Inter Miami CF and Real Salt Lake opened the season on Wednesday, and the rest of the league will begin play this weekend. This includes NYCFC, for they are on the road for Opening Day. The Pigeons will face Charlotte FC, a team that has the edge over them.
NYCFC is 0-3-1 against Queen City, with their last match ending in a 1-1 draw. It does not make sense that the Bronx side has struggled since Charlotte joined MLS in 2022. When one takes that into account, and their recent road woes, the ability to win appears far away. Yet, when one looks at both teams on paper, the Boys in City Blue are the better side.
Can NYCFC come away and steal all three points? Here is a preview of the MLS Season opener against Charlotte.
Date
NYCFC and Charlotte FC will play one another on Saturday, February 24.
Time
The game is at 7:30 PM ET.
Location
The fixture will occur at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina.
How to watch
Fans can watch the game on Apple TV via the MLS Season Pass.
Weather
Saturday evening is expected to be a chilly evening in Charlotte. At 7:30 PM, it is forecasted to be around 50 degrees. The rain from earlier should be gone.
Players to watch
NYCFC fans should watch Mounsef Bakrar to see whether he can continue to score goals from the preseason. There is no question that goals remain a concern at this time.
On Charlotte, fans should watch Enzo Copetti. The forward scored six goals during the 2023 regular season and is likely seeking to step up in the goal-scoring department. He can easily be one of the biggest threats on Saturday.
Prediction
It is realistic to make a negative prediction, but that is no way to start the season. Instead, leaning towards positivity, NYCFC will win by a 1-0 score line.
manual