The Major League Soccer break is here, and New York City FC will begin the 2024 Leagues Cup this weekend. The first game will be against Liga MX side Querétaro F.C. at Yankee Stadium. The game will cap off a weekend of soccer in the Bronx since Manchester City FC and AC Milan are playing a preseason friendly the day before. Some fans may boycott the Leagues Cup match but this would be a great weekend for two days of games.
Fans should know that Querétaro F.C. is a team the Pigeons should beat on paper. The Liga MX side has been struggling over the last few years, and while it has only been four games, they currently sit in last place in the standings. In addition, they finished the Apertura in 14th place and the Clausura in 10th place during the previous season. Moreover, with FC Cincinnati on the horizon, a win is a must for NYCFC.
They recently have been struggling on the road, but the Bronx team continues to play better at home. Before the road trip, the Boys in Blue won 4-2 over Orlando City SC and 2-0 over CF Montréal. Therefore, the players are expected to score and challenge the visitors. The return of Talles Magno surely helps, as seen in the Atlanta United FC win. At the same time, Nick Cushing has to consistently make the correct substitution decisions.
One question of the head coach is who he will put between the sticks: Matt Freese or Luis Barraza? The backup goalkeeper has not played any games since the first team did not play in the U.S. Open Cup. He finally received some minutes with NYCFC II on July 14, but that is it since the preseason. So will Cushing go with Freese who has played consistently well? Or will he give Barraza some time during the Leagues Cup? This is something to watch.
How to watch, time, and more of the Leagues Cup game between NYCFC and Querétaro F.C.
Date
Time
8:00 PM ET, with expected kickoff at 8:10 PM ET
How to watch on TV and streaming
FS1, UniMas, and the MLS Season Pass via Apple TV
How to watch in person
Fans can head to Yankee Stadium
How to listen
newyorkcityfc.com/radio, via the NYCFC app, and SiriusXM FC on Channel 157
How to follow
If NYCFC supporters cannot watch or listen to the game, then they can follow along via NYCFC’s X account and MLS Soccer’s timeline.
Final Notes
As mentioned, some fans may boycott the Leagues Cup. Many are upset about Major League Soccer’s mistreatment of the U.S. Open Cup and not allowing most teams to play in the oldest tournament. The league, with Liga MX, instead created the newer summer tournament for monetary purposes. Plus, fans are not happy about the lack of investment into the rosters to aid with an increase in matches, which was one of the arguments for why teams did not play in the Open Cup. It will be interesting to see what the attendance numbers are like.