It's Matchday 22, and New York City FC travel to the heart of Texas for their first-ever matchup with Austin FC.
The two teams have some shared DNA – Austin's star players include NYCFC alum Alex Ring and Brad Stuver, and both clubs were shaped early in their histories by former sporting director Claudio Reyna – but the scheduling gods decided to make the Boys in Blue wait more than three years before they face the Verde and Black.
• Matchday 22: Austin FC vs New York City FC
• Date and Time: Saturday, July 6, 8:30 pm ET
• Venue: Q2 Stadium in Austin, TX
• Forecast: Sweltering, rising humidity, 87F/31C
• Watch: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV
• Apple Broadcast Team: Tyler Terens and Kyndra de St. Aubin (English), Jesus Acosta and Carlos Suarez (Spanish)
• New York City FC Radio: Glenn Crooks and Matty Lawrence (English), Roberto Abramowitz and Ariel Judas (Spanish)
• Officiating Crew: Timothy Ford (referee), Adam Wienckowski and Felisha Mariscal (assistant referees), Thomas Snyder (fourth official), Carol Anne Chenard (VAR), Peter Balciunas (assistant VAR)
• Kits: New York City are back in black, and wearing their 24/7 Kit; Austin will wear their secondary green-and-cream Armadillo Kit
New York City are coming off a 2-0 midweek home win over CF Montréal. It was a solid result in the end, but the game was closer than the scoreline might suggest. The question remains: Can New York City find a way to score on the road? They were shut out in their last two away matches, and have just seven goals in nine road games.
Austin didn't play midweek. Instead, the players and staff were probably eating brisket and watching New York City beat Montréal — and gazing in wonder as El Clínico took two shots and scored two goals.
Note the referee will be Timothy Ford, who has yet to head the crew in a New York City game. (He has been on the officiating team in past games.) In his most recent game, the June 22 match between DC United and Houston Dynamo, Ford awarded two penalties, handed out two red cards (both to DC), and whistled 31 fouls.
Andrew Leigh
New York City vs Austin H2H
| GP | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
There is no history between these two clubs, other than what happened in the transfer market. No goals for or against, no results. Nothing. Nada. A tabula rasa.
Oliver Strand
New York City FC
• Player Availability: Malachi Jones (leg) is out after undergoing surgery. In addition, Christian McFarlane (leg), Maxi Moralez (leg), and Birk Risa (leg) are out with injuries.
• Expect Strahinja Tanasijević to make the start for the injured Risa. The center-back is proving to be a good option in defense.
• Will we see Talles Magno? That question has hung over the Designated Player all season: The winger logged just 6' on opening day and nothing since then. Now it's: Will he even make the bench? He hasn't dressed for a game since June 16, when he was an unused sub in the 2-3 home loss to Columbus Crew.
Andrew Leigh
Austin FC
• Player Availability: Midfielder Daniel Pereira is on international duty with Venezuela in the 2024 Copa America. Striker Diego Rubio is suspended after earning due to yellow card accumulation.
• Another player who isn't on the roster: Osman Bukari. The 25-year-old Designated Player and Ghana international was signed from Red Star Belgrade in May, but won't join the squad until later in July. Transfermarkt values the midfielder at $7.6 million.
• Recent Austin results include some real head-scratchers. They draw LAFC at home 1-1, then log a solid win on the road over a Minnesota United reduced to 10 players. But then last week they lose to a hapless Sporting Kansas City who let in four goals per game in their previous three matches.
• Want to learn more about an Austin that aren't quite what they used to be but can still be dangerous? Phil West of Verde All Day tells us about Austin's struggling offense, Brad Stuver's excellent season, and The Groin Demon in Oppo Research: 5 Things about Austin FC.
Matthew Mangam
