Decisions to ponder: Pascal Jansen's current NYCFC roster for the 2026 season | OneFootball

One year ago, this month, New York City FC Head Coach Pascal Jansen was appointed the sixth head coach in club history since 2015. His first season saw the team finish in fifth place in the Eastern Conference and make the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

He also faced some major injuries to players. Keaton Parks had an extensive and recurring blood flow issue, Andrés Perea suffered a lower leg fracture, and Alonso Martínez suffered a ruptured ACL while on international duty with Costa Rica. Despite all of this, NYCFC still impressed, especially by making the last game before the MLS Cup Finals. Sadly, it was there that the team suffered defeat by the powerful Inter Miami CF.

Hence, the Pigeons must build for 2026, and there are some questions about the roster. And, with the expectation of the Bronx side being a contender in 2026, fans believed the search for more talent would immediately begin. There was also the hope that Justin Haak would return after a stellar 2025.

However, former Sporting Director David Lee apparently said some things to Haak that sparked a reaction. Per the defender, "At the end of last year, our old sporting director told me he didn’t think I was a 34-game starter, so it was really big for me to come here and prove him wrong.”

Pascal Jansen must figure out the NYCFC roster for 2026

Haak did, in fact, start all 34 games in Major League Soccer and all 43 matches overall for NYCFC. However, what Lee said to him might have been the tipping point. As of December 29, 2025, supporters of the Pigeons found out that Haak had signed with the LA Galaxy as a free agent on a one-year contract deal.

This was a massive blow to a team and coach that ended last season on a great note to build for an even more impressive 2026 MLS season. With his departure and the injuries as mentioned above comes the burning question: How will NYCFC compensate for these losses?

Jansen and NYCFC thankfully have Nicolás Fernández Mercau. He could possibly step up for the missing goals that the team will miss with Martínez. He joined on July 11, playing in 19 games in all competitions and scoring five goals. Still, a scoring forward would help.

There is also the hope that Maxi Moralez will return. He is a proven leader who is the heartbeat of NYCFC. But the midfielder is 38 years old and may be in the dying embers of his professional career. In other words, retirement might be a possibility, which would make Fernández Mercau an option to play in his spot.

In addition, if Parks is healthy, then he can step in for Perea. But there are multiple options to cover for Perea's absence, like Aiden O'Neill.

The backline can use Raul Gustavo and Thiago Martins as the center-backs. Gustavo might be the replacement for Haak in the end, since he proved he can play there and as a left-back at the end of the year.

The club also has a wealth of youth players who have yet to display their full talents and play consistently on the big stage. 24-year-old defender Nico Cavallo, 23-year-old defender Max Murray, 17-year-old midfielder Máximo Carrizo, 18-year-old midfielder Jonathon Shore, and 17-year-old forward Seymour Reid are some of those players that Jansen could utilize in 2026.

It will be interesting to see whether NYCFC can acquire players to replace Haak and the injured players. Could Jansen shake things up a bit in terms of lineup formation, which he currently favors a 4-2-3-1, choosing to go with an all-new look on the pitch?

One of the most reliable aspects of this roster is the dependable goalkeeper, Matt Freese, who has displayed his value constantly. He shows it off with big saves, penalty shootout moments, and he is also making a name for himself within the USMNT.

With the start of next season just around the corner, there will be many questions for Jansen to answer as fans gear up for another emotionally intense season as NYCFC looks to continue down the path of their positive direction.