Kick-off at 1:00 PM ET. For the New York Polish community, this is an opportunity to see the best footballer in history live — for the price of a league match ticket, not a World Cup final ticket.
NYCFC — what we know after the first weeks of the season
New York City FC enters its twelfth season in Major League Soccer. The team, led by coach Pascal Jansen, started the season on the road with a match against LA Galaxy on February 22, then faced Philadelphia Union, and played their home opener on March 7 at Yankee Stadium against Orlando City. The last match — a 3:1 win against Colorado Rapids — showed that NYCFC can score goals and control the game.
In 2027, NYCFC will move to its own stadium — Etihad Park — which will be the first soccer-specific stadium built for the club in New York. For now, the team shares Yankee Stadium with the New York Yankees (ten home matches) and plays some games at Citi Field in Queens (four matches). In October, when the Yankees are in the playoffs, NYCFC traditionally looks for an alternate venue — a problem that will disappear next year.
Inter Miami — Messi and title defense
Inter Miami CF is the current MLS champion. Lionel Messi, an eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, is the biggest star not only of the team but of the entire league. In April, Inter Miami will open its new Nu Stadium — another investment in a project that, since Messi’s arrival in 2023, has changed the face of soccer in Florida and throughout the United States.
For Inter Miami, the match at Yankee Stadium is a routine away league game. For fans in New York — it’s an event. Tickets for matches featuring Messi regularly reach the highest prices of the season, and the atmosphere in the stands is more reminiscent of a European stadium than a typical American sports match.
Why this is important for the Polish community
Soccer is a sport that Poles understand better than football or baseball. In Greenpoint, Maspeth, Ridgewood — Polish families grew up with soccer. Wisła Garfield, which we write about separately, has just proven that a Polish-American club can compete at a national level. But to follow top-level soccer in America, you don’t have to go to Garfield — just take the subway to the Bronx.
NYCFC plays at Yankee Stadium — literally within one transfer from any Polish-American neighborhood in New York. Tickets start at a few dozen dollars. And this season, there will be more matches worth seeing than usual — because in addition to the regular league, the whole world will come to New York for the 2026 World Cup this summer. MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford (New Jersey) will host the World Cup final. Soccer in New York has never been closer to the Polish community than it is now.
Practical information
- Match: New York City FC vs Inter Miami CF
- Date: Sunday, March 22, 2026
- Time: 1:00 PM ET
- Stadium: Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY
- Broadcast: Apple TV (all MLS matches available with Apple TV subscription)
- Tickets: newyorkcityfc.com
MLS 2026 Season — key dates for New York fans
The MLS regular season runs from February 22 to November 7. NYCFC will play 34 matches — 17 at home, of which 10 at Yankee Stadium and 4 at Citi Field have been confirmed so far. The location of the remaining three autumn home matches will be announced during the season — it depends on whether the Yankees and Mets advance to the baseball playoffs. The most important home matches on the calendar are: the Friday Hudson River Derby (NYCFC vs NY Red Bulls) on September 18 at 7:30 PM at Yankee Stadium, and the visit of Chicago Fire FC on July 25. In the summer, the league takes a break for the 2026 World Cup — the last match before the pause is May 23 (Nashville away), resumption on July 22 (Columbus away).
Playoffs are scheduled for November and December, with the MLS Cup final on December 18.
Polish Soccer — weekly analyses and MLS results from New York, Chicago, Miami, etc. on poland.us. Looking for Polish businesses in the USA? PolishPages.com.
