Toronto FC will be visiting the tight confines of Yankee Stadium's outfield to face New York City FC in a match featuring two squads heading in opposite directions in the Eastern Conference. It will be the two clubs' first meeting of the season. Last season, New York took care of Toronto, winning both meetings by scores of 3-1 and 1-0.

Toronto will be hoping to turn this trend around in 2026, but the form of the two teams heading into Friday's clash could not be more different.

In their last five matches, NYCFC have earned three wins and a draw for a healthy 10 points from a possible 15. Toronto, on the other hand, have three losses and two draws for just two points from a possible 15. In that same stretch, NYCFC are averaging 1.6 goals scored against just one goal conceded. Toronto are nearly a mirror image in reverse, with an average of just 0.6 goals scored and 1.4 goals conceded.

New York City FC's recent form

New York City FC under manager Pascal Jansen has been a well-prepared team, playing with structure, consistency, and tactical discipline, with an attack that has produced reliably throughout the first half of 2026. This has been particularly impressive considering the injuries that have decimated their lineup of late.

Despite the plethora of injuries throughout their squad, New York City FC's home record has been quite good, with two wins and just one loss in their last three at the tight confines of Yankee Stadium. Their most recent result was a convincing 3-1 win over a high-octane Chicago Fire side. Overall in 2026, NYCFC have collected 25 points from 17 games, good for fifth in the Eastern Conference.

Their attack has been led by Nicolás Fernández, their top playmaker and scorer, with 12 goals and five assists, averaging a goal contribution in every match so far in 2026. Anchoring the back line is Brazilian centre-back and club captain Thiago Martins. Behind him, they have Matt Freese, the USMNT's starting goalkeeper at this summer's World Cup.

Toronto FC's recent form

It is becoming more challenging by the week to find silver linings in what has been a tumultuous and disappointing season for the Reds in 2026. The club has not won a game since 4 April 2026 — 117 days ago. Unsurprisingly, the team sits on 16 points and in 12th place in MLS's Eastern Conference.

Injuries have been an issue, but this is now more of a rear-view mirror concern for Toronto. Reds manager Robin Fraser, a defensive specialist in both his playing days and coaching career, has managed to stabilize a Toronto defence with a recent history of allowing more goals than a team with ambitions to compete in MLS should. Toronto's 31 goals conceded is not far off the Eastern Conference average of 28.8 goals conceded by the 15-team conference.

The biggest challenge facing Toronto is finding a way to reliably and consistently put the ball in the net. Toronto's attack has just 23 goals to show against an Eastern Conference average of 27.8 goals scored. The team's offensive shortcomings are putting considerable pressure on TFC's manager, whether he or the club care to admit it or not.

The bottom line is that a squad featuring designated players Josh Sargent and Đorđe Mihailović along with non-DP Dániel Sallói should be capable of greater production. While the injury crisis of the early portion of the season seriously impeded Fraser's ability to play his attacking talents together, that excuse is no longer in play. Simply put, if Toronto do not start scoring and producing credible results soon, Fraser's job could be on the line.

Recent TFC signing Niklas Dorsch is likely to finally make his Toronto debut against New York City but will likely feature from the bench. With nearly five more weeks until the MLS summer transfer window closes, there will likely be more roster additions to come.

Availability

It appears MLS has crowned a new king of the injury list, as New York City FC have ten players out, all coincidentally with leg injuries. New York will be without the services of Drew Baiera, Arnau Farnós, Raul Gustavo, Mac Learned, Alonso Martínez, Maxi Moralez, Aiden O'Neill, Kevin O'Toole, Keaton Parks, and Kai Trewin.

Toronto FC's injury list has shrunk to just four players unable to be available for selection by Robin Fraser. Those unavailable against New York City include Nicksoen Gomis (thigh), Nelson Palacio (reconditioning/lower body), Matheus Pereira (groin), and Lazar Stefanović (foot).

Projected XIs

New York City FC (4-1-4-1): Matt Freese; Nico Cavallo, James Sands, Thiago Martins, Tayvon Gray; Jonathan Shore; Malachi Jones, Andrés Perea, Nicolás Fernández, Agustín Ojeda; Talles Magno

Toronto FC (4-2-3-1): Luka Gavran; Jackson Gilman, Zane Monlouis, Walker Zimmerman, Kobe Franklin; Alonso Coello, Jonathan Osorio; Dániel Sallói, Đorđe Mihailović, Theo Corbeanu; Josh Sargent

Game information and how to watch

📅 Friday, July 31, 2026
⏰ 7:30 pm ET / 4:30 pm PT
📺 Apple TV
👨‍⚖️ Ramy Touchan
🏟 Yankee Stadium, New York, USA