On Sunday, New York City FC face Atlas FC in the opening match of Leagues Cup, a World Cup-style tournament that includes all 47 teams in Liga MX and MLS. This midseason competition offers a unique opportunity for NYCFC to gain momentum, integrate their new signings from the Summer transfer window, and head back into MLS league games in good form.
Here are the keys to NYCFC mounting a deep run in Leagues Cup.
Leagues Cup is here: Do you care?
NYCFC’s group is weak
Leagues Cup competition opens on July 21 with a brief group stage. Liga MX and MLS teams were placed into 15 groups with three teams each (Liga MX title winners Pachuca and MLS title winners LAFC advance directly to the knockout stage), and the top two teams in each group will advance. In other words, only 15 teams will fail to advance to the knockout stage.
NYCFC were drawn into East 3, along with Atlas and Toronto FC. Both of NYCFC’s games will be at “home,” with New York City hosting Atlas at Citi Field on Sunday, July 23, and hosting Sean Johnon’s Toronto at Red Bull Arena on Wednesday, July 26.
The groups were decided based off of last year’s standings, when NYCFC finished fifth in MLS, Toronto finished 27th, and Atlas finished 13th in Liga MX. This year, NYCFC are in 25th place, and Toronto are in 28th. Atlas are in seventh place after just three games, with a record of 1-1-1 and a goal differential of +1.
NYCFC have a distinct advantage, as they form last year gives them home-field advantage in the group stage, and both of their opponents have flawed squads. Toronto are easily the most dysfunctional team in MLS this season, while the untested Atlas lost their best player and top goal-scorer when Julian Quinones joined Club América the offseason.
Compare NYCFC’s East 3 group to Central 1, which features Club América, St. Louis City, and Columbus Crew. All three teams are having better seasons than NYCFC, or any club in East 3.
As Joseph Lowery wrote for MLS.com, “Even with their poor MLS play, NYCFC will have a chance to get back on track… New signings should improve the team – even without them, they’d still be favored to advance over Toronto.” I think NYCFC should advance to the round of 32, and could even top the group.
NYCFC Leagues Cup preliminary roster released
How to advance through the knockout rounds
Looking past the group stage, NYCFC could have a favorable matchup in the Round of 32 as well. The winners of East 3 will play the winners of East 4, a group that consists of New England Revolution, New Jersey Red Bulls, and Liga MX side San Luis. The winner of East 3 will play the runner-up in East 4, and the runner-up of East 3 will play the winner of East 4.
East 4 isn’t as weak as East 3 primarily because of the Revolution, which currently sit in second place in the Eastern Conference. The Revs should win the group if head coach Bruce Arena chooses to field strong teams.
Obviously, NYCFC cannot control what happens in East 4. However, the path is there to advance through the Round of 32.
MLS is a momentum league, and NYCFC is a momentum team. New York City’s last two playoff runs prove that once a win or two is under the belt, you never know what can happen.
After strong performances against Atlas and Toronto, you have reason to be optimistic about NYCFC’s chances against Red Bulls or Santos Laguna (who, like Atlas, have a 1-1-1 record, but a goal differential of -1).
NYCFC’s Magic Numbers for the playoffs are not good
New blood
Even NYCFC fans who don’t care about the tournament will undoubtedly follow the games to watch the debuts of the club’s two new signings, Algerian striker Mounsef Bakrar and Norwegian defender Birk Risa. While Bakrar was named to NYCFC’s preliminary roster, Risa was not, although the defender could be eligible to join the team in the knockout round.
These Leagues Cup games are the perfect forum for NYCFC to test out their new weapons and integrate them into the team.
The two newcomers fill major holes in the team’s lineup left by the departures of striker Taty Castellanos and central defender Alexander Callens. If both Bakrar and Risa are close to the players they seem to be, then NYCFC have one of the better rosters in the league on paper. No more makeshift backlines or playing wingers at striker, NYCFC could now have a complete team — albeit one with little depth.
My point is predicated on Bakrar being able to finish, and Risa being able to defend, however with strong NYCFC’s history of making good signings – especially during the summer – I’m confident both will be a success.
We’ll soon find out. NYCFC’s first Leagues Cup is just three days away.
