It’s been just 12 days since LAFC started their 2025 campaign. Just 12 days and already this team has played in two different competitions, two different time zones, and tonight they get set for their fourth match in that same timespan. While four matches across a little more than a week is not uncommon for the sport stateside, but to have such a congested schedule to start the season, is pretty rare, but such is the life of a club that wants to hold itself to the highest of standards. Tonight, it’s the classic East Coast vs West Coast as LAFC host New York City FC, in a battle of teams that will be meeting for the first time since 2021!
Matchday: #LAFCvNYC
⏰ 7:30 PM PT
🏟️ @bmostadium
🖥️ @appletv with #MLSSeasonPass
🎧 @espnlosangeles pic.twitter.com/N9QmXDiS9K— LAFC (@LAFC) March 1, 2025
Historically speaking, this is one of the few teams in the MLS that can look back on their matches with the black & gold fondly. Today marks just the fourth time these two teams meet, excluding a few preseason meetings spattered here and there, and its been the East Coasters swinging with great success against. NYCFC hold a 1-2-0 (W-D-L) record over Los Angeles. That’s right, NYCFC are the only team left in the entirety of the MLS that LAFC has yet to outright beat. That said, the last time these two faved off was a 1-2 home loss way back in the first half of the 2021 season. That year NYCFC went on to lift the MLS Cup while LAFC missed the playoffs and marked the beginning of their first real era of change. Since then, the club has lifted their own MLS Cup, several other trophies, enjoyed bountiful form and has turned their home stadium into a proper fortress.
“We have not played New York since I have been a head coach” said LAFC Head Coach Steve Cherundolo when asked his thoughts on the club not being able to overcome New York. “I can’t speak to the other matches. It’s too far away, too long ago, so I don’t really have an opinion in that matter.” Not only is the head coach for LAFC different this time around, but so is the entire roster with not a single player from that 2021 loss on the current iteration of Los Angeles Football Club.
24 Hours. ⌛
🆚 @newyorkcityfc
🏟️ @bmostadium
🖥️ @appletv with #MLSSeasonPass
🎧 @espnlosangeles
🎟️ https://t.co/8WDi0NZ79O#LAFC | @trulyseltzer pic.twitter.com/nfjFWWkBxF— LAFC (@LAFC) March 1, 2025
For their part, New York City FC have perhaps the toughest start to the season for a team that isn’t having to navigate Concacaf Champions Cup. They opened up the new year on the road against the team many hold as favorites in the Eastern Conference, Inter Miami, where they nearly came away with the win if not for a stoppage time goal from Miami. Now, they keep the road trip going, flying across country to take on who many believe will be a top contender for best in the Western Conference, LAFC. They do however, get a true week’s worth of rest between, not having any midweek matches, something Los Angeles do have to think about. “I think rotations is something we’ve always done” said Head Coach Steve Cherundolo when talking about the lineups. “Who gets rotated when, there’s a lot that goes into that. “It’s not that I’m looking for perfect rotation numbers, it’s making sure that the team we do field, gives LAFC the best chance to win the game.”
How To Watch
Kickoff for this match is set for 7:30pm PT from BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, Ca. The match will be broadcast live and can be streamed on AppleTV with MLS Season Pass. The match will also be broadcast live on radio and can be heard on ESPNLA 710AM.
Thoughts ahead of the rare NYCFC match? Leave a comment below!