Which NYCFC podcast is right for you?

New York City FC gets sparse coverage in the local New York media. There are no reporters dedicated to covering the team at any of New York City’s newspapers, and the big digital sports-only outlets, say The Athletic or ESPN, only tend to cover the team when news or narrative warrants it.

If you’re looking for match-after-match coverage of NYCFC, you have to look elsewhere. There are some print sites (like, say, the one you’re currently reading), but there are also many NYCFC podcasts. 

In fact, you are spoiled for choice if you’re looking to listen to a podcast focused on NYCFC. The number of pods providing regular, in-depth talk about the team has steadily risen since 2015, and there’s likely a show that fits every different type of prospective NYCFC-curious podcast listener: Here are the eight best NYCFC podcasts you can listen to right now.

Whether you’re a new follower of the team, or you’re just hungry for fresh audible NYCFC content and are not sure where to turn, this post should provide a clear overview of your options.

Note that this is not a ranking, and my personal recommendation is to give every podcast mentioned here a listen. Also note that I only include podcasts that appear to be actively releasing new episodes on something close to a regular schedule.

This wrap-up mainly provides context for each show: Who are the hosts, how each show tends to operate, and the general vibe you can expect while listening. With all that said, let’s explore the wonderful world of NYCFC podcasts. 

Blue City Radio 

Hosts: Michael Anderer, Michael Allen, JR Dibart 

General vibe: A style and format akin to what you’d find on WFAN or other sports talk radio outlets. Michael Anderer has been hosting this show since before NYCFC even played a competitive match, and it recently hit the 400-episode milestone. Blue City Radio has always been focused on extensive post-match analyses, with each episode seeing the hosts single out top and bottom NYCFC performers, with the least impressive player serenaded with a true “Bronx Cheer.” While always a place for level-headed, lively discussion of the biggest happenings around NYCFC, BCR has also grown into a well-produced, comprehensive show that can approach two hours in length, not that that’s a bad thing. The trio of hosts cover lots of ground and are frequently joined by notable guests from around MLS and American soccer (and also less notably me, one time).

This podcast is for: Someone looking for the NYCFC sports talk radio experience.

Find it on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Show Website

NYCFC Forever

Hosts: Dave Moncion, Jonathan Sanchez, Yousef Ricart

General vibe: You know the f-ing vibe. NYCFC Forever discusses all the top topics in NYCFCland, but through a decidedly supporter-centric lens. You will hear, for example, about the mood at the pre-match tailgates before NYCFC games at Citi Field. You will also get a full rundown of every NYCFC lineup and team performance, and none of it will be boring. The tone is consistently lighthearted and jokes and laughter are plentiful among the co-hosts, who don’t shy away from talking about themselves and their lives, particularly as it relates to their NYCFC fandom. It always sounds like a good time is being had by everyone involved, and you can even now watch that good time unfold, as NYCFC Forever captures video of almost all their pod episode tapings and shares them on YouTube.

This podcast is for: Someone who wants a frontline view of NYCFC’s supporter culture. 

Find it on: Apple Podcasts, YouTube, Spotify

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Blue Balls 

Hosts: Jake Beckhard, Trey Fillmore

General vibe: Another podcast that’s been around since way back in 2015, Blue Balls is a lean two-person pod that provides vital, humorous, informative regular coverage of NYCFC. The hosts appear to be tight with the folks from The Outfield and thus tend to lean more analytical and highbrow in their discussions of NYCFC. Still, their podcast’s name is partly a testicle joke, so it’s never that serious of a show. Listening will usually make you feel as though you’re dropping in on an informed soccer conversation taking place between two millennial-aged friends who live in NYC. Bonus: Blue Balls has, arguably, one of the best Brad Sims-endorsed Twitter presences in NYCFC-land, if you’re into that sort of thing.

This podcast is for: Someone who likes a bit of snark mixed in with their well-reasoned soccer analysis.

Find it on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify

NYCFC CITY BOYS SHOW 

Hosts: Daniel and Javier Gutierrez 

General vibe: The City Boys keep the mood consistently light even when NYCFC’s results are subpar. Their episodes generally under an hour, which may be valuable to the more time-stressed listeners, but you don’t get short-changed on NYCFC talk. The City Boys are also one of the more creative pods when it comes to their use of social media, as they are quick to drop quality memes and one of the few shows that’s active on TikTok. Like the aforementioned NYCFC Forever pod, the City Boys also film their episodes for YouTube. 

This podcast is for: Someone who wants to keep their soccer podcasts breezy, lighthearted, and informative. 

Find it on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube

Post 90’ 

Hosts: Justin Blosser, Adam Hayes 

General vibe: A conversational podcast that features two Connecticut-based NYCFC fans diving deep on every single match. They keep the episodes tight, with most clocking in around 30 minutes, but they still pack in conversation on all the major talking points coming out of NYCFC matches. They presumably called their show Post 90’ for a reason, as this feels like the right show for someone who just finished a match and wants to digest it alongside some likeminded pod hosts. Neither host shies away from sharing his opinions, no matter how they may or may not align with the conventional wisdom around NYCFC, its players, and their performances.

This podcast is for: Someone with about 30 minutes to get caught up on the biggest NYCFC news.

Find it on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube

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Soccer Subs 

Hosts: Ronnie Tapia, Cristhian Ortiz, Vas Skamnias, Eric Coyotecatl

General vibe: Unique in this list because it’s a show that talks about both NYCFC and the Red Bulls. Soccer Subs caters to both sides of the Hudson River divide, while also bringing in quality guests to discuss topics of interest to the wider MLS and American soccer audiences. They’ve got four hosts, and usually have an on-the-scene presence covering home matches for both NYCFC and Red Bull, so you get plenty of pre- and post-match soundbites and quotes mixed in with the discussion of each team.

This podcast is for: Someone who loves NYCFC, and also wants to keep tabs on their biggest rival.

Find it on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Twitter

On Frame

Host: Glenn Crooks 

General vibe: It’s an interview show, so the vibe is conversational and driven by NYCFC’s longtime radio play-by-play announcer. On Frame is not exclusively about NYCFC, but its guests have skewed pretty heavily toward NYCFC players and staff, hence its inclusion here.  Glenn is a longtime soccer coach who was in charge of the Rutgers University women’s team for 14 years, so he brings an extremely well-informed on-field perspective to his interviews with players, coaches, or other American soccer figures of interest.

This podcast is for: Someone who wants to hear directly from NYCFC players and staff. 

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Find it on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify

Beyond the Smokestacks 

Hosts: Coach Joe, Christian Smith, and Davi

General vibe: If you’re familiar with Coach Joe from his prolific and passionate Twittering, you already have an idea of what you’ll get from the podcast he recently launched with Christian Smith, who was the executive editor of Hudson River until 2021. It’s a show of strongly-held opinions, salty language, and lots of heated debate about every big moment in every NYCFC match. The show is new to the pod scene as of this year, but they’ve been putting out two episodes per week, perfect for those of us who are problematically addicted to ingesting NYCFC content.  

This podcast is for: Someone who deeply feels the emotional highs and lows of following NYCFC.

Find it on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify