Breaking down the February and March 2026 schedule for NYCFC | OneFootball

The 2026 Major League Soccer season is only a few days away, and New York City FC will begin their campaign this weekend on the road. The Boys in Blue enter this year lacking a solidified striker to begin their quest, but for the most part, the majority of last year's squad is back. Ideally, by the end of March, the team will have that scoring forward that they need to replace the injured Alonso Martínez.

Notably, NYCFC only won once in their preseason, going 1-2-2 across five matches. There is no reason to be worried, though. Yes, the Pigeons have a tough start to the season, with two road games. Plus, the teams visiting them at home are not the easiest opponents. At least they will have an early-season homestand, playing three of the four in March. The Boys in Blue can have a slow start, though, and that has happened multiple times before. Still, anything can happen.

Nevertheless, let's try not to be negative. So, here is a look at the upcoming NYCFC schedule for February and March.

NYCFC's February and March 2026 schedule

Sunday, February 22: NYCFC at LA Galaxy

NYCFC will begin the 2026 season with a Sunday evening game against the LA Galaxy. The California team did a complete 180, for they won the MLS Cup in 2024 and finished in 14th place in the Western Conference in 2025. As such, the Pigeons do not know which team they will face when the opening whistle blows. But they do know they will face a great defensive player in Justin Haak, who moved to LA as a free agent in the offseason. It will be a quick reunion, but for once, nobody wants to see Haak play well. Moreover, the Galaxy can be a challenging team to face, so it will be a tough start to the season.

Sunday, March 1: NYCFC at Philadelphia Union

Like last year, the second match of 2026 will also be away from home. This time, NYCFC will face the Philadelphia Union, whom they beat in the MLS Cup Playoffs a few months ago. Hence, their Eastern Conference rival will seek revenge. However, one could argue the Bronx side took revenge after the MLS Supporters' Shield winners beat them toward the end of the regular season. Both teams have slightly different lineups and lost star defensive players in the offseason, as Kai Wagner left the Union. But this will be a rivalry fixture, so it should be entertaining.

Saturday, March 7: NYCFC vs Orlando City SC

NYCFC's home opener will be against a familiar foe: Orlando City SC, whom they faced in the season opener last year. The two teams began their MLS journeys in 2015, and Orlando is one of their rivals in the Eastern Conference. As such, the Pigeons will want to start the four-game homestand with a win. This will be one of the few Saturday afternoon matches, so it should be a great day full of home opener events and the game itself. Oh, and the Boys in Blue will want to continue their unbeaten streak against the Florida side that goes back to 2022.

Saturday, March 14: NYCFC vs Colorado Rapids

Things did not go so well the last time the Bronx team faced the Colorado Rapids. In 2024, they lost to the Western Conference side for the first time, losing 2-0. It was not an ideal result, and it was at home as well. Hence, NYCFC will want this fixture to go differently and will have the pressure to win. The good news is that 2024, the year they did not make the postseason, is in the past. This time, Pascal Jansen's tactics will hopefully lead to a win.

Sunday, March 22: NYCFC vs Inter Miami CF

The final game of March and the third match of the four-game homestand will see the Pigeons face the team that scored 11 goals against them in 2025: Inter Miami CF. The reigning MLS Cup Champions ended NYCFC's season during the playoffs, demolishing the Boys in Blue on the way. Since the Herons have already rebuilt those they lost, and somehow are legally following the rules that have hurt previous winners, this will be the most challenging matchup in the first five games. NYCFC will have a mountain to climb.