It’s been another special year for New York City Football Club.
A season of change, challenge and triumph, the latest chapter of our journeyheld many more unforgettable memories.
As the dust settles on the 2022 MLS campaign and we near the conclusion of the calendar year, we look back on some of those special moments. Which has been your favorite?
Celebration Ceremony
Something to treasure...
In commemoration of our maiden MLS Cup success, the NYCFC squad were awarded Championship Rings, designed by Baron.
Incorporating gemstone representations of the team colors, as well as our ‘NYC’ monogram, the date of our triumph and our slogan ‘UndeNYable’, the rings mark a memento of our history-making achievement.
Though a little delayed, the squad and staff received their rings at a ceremony in July, and the players proudly showed off their new silverware.
A night to remember.
Young Stars
The future is Blue!
This season opened a new chapter for the Club with the launch of development side NYCFC II.
Competing in the newly-formed MLS NEXT Pro – a competitive 24-match league – the Club cemented its support and commitment to the development of young players, offering an integrated player pathway to the First Team.
Amongst the maiden roster, three homegrown contracts were awarded to Forward Jonathan ‘JJ’ Jimenez and Defenders Nicholas ‘Nico’ Benalcazar and Samuel ‘Kwaku’ Owusu – and Owusu would go on to make his first senior appearance in September.
Matches were played at Belson Stadium, as part of a partnership with St. John’s University, and Matt Pilkington’s side produced a fine debut campaign, finishing fifth in the Eastern Conference standings, narrowly missing the playoffs. An encouraging start.
Champions’ Homecoming
First home game, first win.
City’s opening fixture on home soil in 2022 proved an enjoyable one, as the MLS Cup Champions’ homecoming was celebrated with four goals and three points.
Our opening goal of the campaign was scored by Alex Callens, as the Defender smashed home with just seven minutes on the clock at Yankee Stadium.
Santiago Rodríguez doubled the lead with a glorious chipped finish, while Talles Magno and Thiago Andrade netted late on to ensure Zachary Brault-Guillard's effort proved a mere consolation.
NYCFC were up and running in 2022.
Campeones Cup
Our second piece of major silverware.
City stormed back to winning ways in September to clinch our second trophy in as many seasons, lifting the Campeones Cup.
A 2-0 triumph over Atlas F.C. at Citi Field earned Nick Cushing his first cup success as NYCFC Head Coach and kick-started the campaign for the Boys in Blue.
Callens opened the scoring after just four minutes, converting from close range, and Maxi Moralez made it two in the second half, drilling across the goalkeeper shortly after the restart.
At the other end, Luis Barraza preserved a clean sheet with a solid display between the sticks and the home side held on for a deserved win to write more history.
Demolition Derbies
New York is Blue!
For the first time in MLS history, NYCFC completed the season series double over Red Bulls.
The Boys in Blue triumphed 1-0 at Red Bull Arena in July, courtesy of Taty Castellanos’ super strike, before cruising to a 2-0 win at Citi Field in September – a matter of days after our Campeones Cup victory.
Once again, it was Callens on the scoresheet with an early goal, heading home within a minute in the Bronx – his second goal of the week!
Rodríguez extended the lead midway through the opening 45, controlling well and sliding home the second to steer City to a superb win. Derby delight!
Playoffs Secured
Seven in succession.
City secured a place in the 2022 MLS Playoffs for a seventh consecutive season, clinching third spot in the Eastern Conference on Decision Day.
A 2-1 win at Atlanta United ensured the feat, with Gabriel Pereira and Héber on the scoresheet to claim our first victory at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Andrew Gutman had halved the deficit but the Boys in Blue held on for our fourth straight win to complete the regular season on a positive note.
Next up: the playoffs...
Inter, The Playoffs
What a night at Citi Field.
Round One of the 2022 MLS Playoffs pitted New York against Inter Miami C.F. – and what a game it turned out to be... With the Boys in Blue having secured home advantage with a third-place finish, the fans turned out in numbers and roared the team onto a memorable 3-0 triumph.
A cagey first-half saw chances for both sides but Cushing’s men came out flying after the break, opening the scoring with Pereira’s beautiful curling finish, and doubling the lead with a gloriously-worked 19-pass move, which Moralez finished with aplomb.
The result was put beyond doubt in injury time when Héber added gloss to the scoreline, capping a sensational team performance. The triumph continued our winning streak and set up a trip to CF Montrèal, where the visitors produced an equally impressive display.
The post-match celebrations said it all: jubilant scenes in Queens!
Nick Cushing Appointed
Here to stay...
November brought news of a new chapter, as it was announced Nick Cushing had been appointed Head Coach on a permanent basis.
Having led the team as Interim throughout the second half of the campaign, Cushing guided the Boys in Blue to Campeones Cup success and the Eastern Conference Final, instilling a brand of football which was as attractive as it was effective.
The 38-year-old had previously occupied the Assistant Coach role under Ronny Deila, helping the team to our 2021 MLS Cup success, having first started his career with the City Football Group back in 2006.
Previously working within Manchester City’s boys’ academy, coaching Phil Foden, and Cole Palmer, he made the step into senior football and enjoyed a trophy-laden eight-year career as Head Coach of Manchester City’s Women’s Team before embarking on a new challenge with NYCFC. Congratulations, Coach!
Signed And Sealed
Boys in Blue...
There was more good news of players also committing their immediate futures to the Club. The year started with Maxi Moralez extending his stay for another season in January, while Maxime Chanot and Tayvon Gray penned new deals later in the campaign.
Two of our longest-serving City stars, Chanot and Moralez joined the Club back in 2016 and 2017 respectively, and have played each a key role in our success, while Bronx native Gray proudly stands as a homegrown talent.
All three were integral in our 2022 season, tallying 105 appearances between them to help the Club to the Campeones Cup and Eastern Conference Final.
A trio of City stars.
Welcome Home
The year ended with the most exciting news, as New York City Mayor Eric Adams unveiled a vision for the next phase of the transformation of the Willets Point community in Queens, which included plans for a 25,000-seat soccer stadium: the home of NYCFC.
With 2027 marked as the proposed opening date, the privately financed stadium will be constructed with union labor, and will become New York City’s first soccer-specific stadium, growing the love of the sport to local people following the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and bringing investment and economic opportunities to the city.
The Willets Point project will also be anchored by 2,500 new affordable homes – the largest 100-percent affordable, new construction housing project in New York City in 40 years – as well as over 40,000 square feet of public open space, a 250-key hotel and neighborhood-serving, ground-floor retail shops that will create good-paying jobs for community residents.
A truly game-changing moment for the sport inNew York City, and the future of New York City Football Club.
