As we wait for the resumption of the 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs and the highest-stakes Hudson River Derby to date, what better time than now to review New York City FC's full history in the MLS postseason?
The club made the playoffs in eight of their 10 seasons in existence, winning the whole tournament and a first MLS Cup in 2021, but it wasn't always a great experience watching NYCFC try its hand at postseason soccer.
For the first six years of New York City FC's existence, the club was a disaster when the MLS Cup Playoffs rolled around. The team started playing in 2015 but didn't get a playoff win until 2017, under then-head coach Patrick Vieira, and didn't advance through a round until 2018, under Domé Torrent. Those two head coaches might have turned NYCFC into perennial contenders during the regular season, but they combined for two playoff wins and six losses in four years.
NYCFC Overall Playoff Record
| GP | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 | 7 | 4 | 8 | 26 | 29 | -3 |
The club's direction changed in 2021 when NYCFC went on an improbable run to win the title. The club advanced to the Eastern Conference Final in 2022, and find themselves back in the hunt this year after missing the postseason in 2023.
New York City's overall playoff record might not exactly be spectacular, but it's solid, and reflects the ambitions of a team that aims to be competitive every season.
NYCFC Playoff Record by Series
| Series Played | Advanced | Knocked Out |
|---|---|---|
| 14 | 8 | 6 |
Put simply, the team are better at winning playoff games under Ronny Deila and Nick Cushing than they were under Vieira and Torrent.
Deila didn't lose a playoff game in his two postseasons — although he drew three times, advancing twice in penalty kicks and getting knocked out once in farcical fashion in 2020. (More on that below.) For his part, Cushing has the best playoff record of any New York City coach, with the most games played (6), most wins (3), most goals scored (10), highest goal differential (+4), and highest winning percentage (50%).
NYCFC Playoff Record by Head Coach
| GP | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Win % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jason Kreis | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Patrick Vieira | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 11 | -8 | 25.0% |
| Domé Torrent | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 7 | -2 | 25.0% |
| Ronny Deila | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 40.0% |
| Nick Cushing | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 50.0% |
| Total | 19 | 7 | 4 | 8 | 26 | 29 | -3 | 36.8% |
Even more impressive, Deila and Cushing assembled these records while playing a majority of their matches on the road. Deila was at home for just one game out of five, while Cushing was at home for two games out of six. Both are undefeated when playing in New York City, combining for three wins out of three and an aggregate score of 8-1.
NYCFC Playoff Record by Host
| GP | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home | 8 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 14 | 10 | 4 |
| Away | 11 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 12 | 19 | -7 |
Not only is Cushing a perfect 2-0-0 at home, both of those games were at Citi Field. A new chapter in New York City's playoff history will be written on Saturday when Cushing will once again be on the sideline at Citi Field. Until then, read on to remind yourself of the club's checkered past — and improving fortunes.
