Gotham FC Emerge Victorious From Citi Field Smog In Queens Era Preview | OneFootball

Earlier this month, it was announced that Gotham FC will move to the new soccer-specific stadium being built at Willets Point, Queens, in 2028. Just across the road from there on Wednesday night, they faced the Washington Spirit at Citi Field in the first NWSL game to take place within New York City, but the backdrop looked more like the fictional DC Comics depiction of Gotham City rather than real-life New York, as smoke from Canadian wildfires filled the air.

The sky was an eerie orangey-grey. A mixture of sunset and smog, which made for impressive movie-like imagery but worryingly poor air quality.

It is recommended that an air pollution level of 200 or over should lead to a game being cancelled. Anything over 180, and the suggestion is that there should be consideration given to the match being cancelled.

The club and the NWSL decided that the air quality had improved enough so that the game could go ahead as scheduled, perhaps thanks to some pre-match rain clearing the air. However, the low air quality still dictated that there would be not one, but two hydration breaks in each half.

Fans watching the 2026 men’s FIFA World Cup have become used to one hydration break per half, but two disrupted the game even more. For a good portion of the first half, it didn’t feel like it ever really got going, but then Rose Lavelle scored an outstanding goal to liven things up and give Gotham the lead.

In between those hydration breaks, Gotham FC made it even more uncomfortable for Washington with their regular pressing. Lavelle’s goal came from one such situation as a combination of herself and Jaelin Howell stole the ball in a dangerous position.

Once possession was won, Lavelle did the rest, chipping it over Spirit goalkeeper Sandy MacIver from a wide angle when it looked impossible to score. It was a high-profile first NWSL goal in this most high-profile of cities.

The big apple that rises for home runs at Citi Field, and for New York City FC goals, did so for Gotham FC, bearing their logo as it emerged.

Queens has been one of the hotbeds of World Cup fandom throughout the men's event, during which games have taken place across the Hudson River in East Rutherford, closer to Gotham's current, usual home in Harrison, New Jersey.

Both New York City FC of MLS and Gotham FC will have a chance to build on that Queens soccer fever when they move into the new stadium at Willets Point, which for Gotham will happen for the 2028 NWSL season. Having Sam Kerr back on a contract through 2030 might help in this regard, and she came on as a substitute in the second half to begin her second stint with the franchise.

This was not the first time Gotham had played within the New York City boundary, having faced Monterrey in the 2025/26 CONCACAF W Champions Cup at Icahn Stadium on Randall’s Island, Manhattan. They won 2-1 that day in August 2025 in front of an attendance of 858 spectators.

There were considerably more at Citi Field on Wednesday night, with the final attendance announced as 42,175. They will follow this up with a third game in NYC when they return to Icahn Stadium to face Seattle Reign on Saturday. Maybe they'll break the 1,000 barrier this time.

After the dust didn't settle, and the smoke didn't clear, Gotham FC's 1-0 win took them level on points with their opponents in the table as the season approaches the midway point, and just one point behind leaders San Diego Wave.

This game felt like it was about something more long-term than three points in the table, though, and truly marked the beginning of Gotham FC: the New York City years.