Topping Off Etihad Park

NYCFC took advantage of the off week for the FIFA International window and hosted the Topping Off ceremony as the last horizontal steel beam was placed in Etihad Park.  

This week Mike Anderer, Mike Allen and J.R. diBart talk about the event, what if AI became part of VAR analysis and the USMNT as they play two important friendly’s to prepare for the World Cup.

Another PRO Referee Fiasco

NYCFC hosting Inter Miami on a Sunday afternoon could have been a showcase for MLS.  Florida versus New York.  Instead it was an exhibition of absurdity.

This week Mike Anderer and J.R. diBart welcome back Christian Smith to breakdown the Sunday afternoon match and all of it’s highs and lows.

At the end of the show listen to post-game audio from Tayvon Gray, Kevin O’Toole, Johnny Shore and Thiago Martins.

Talles Magno’s Moment

NYCFC faced their toughest challenge to date in 2026 with the Colorado Rapids coming to Yankee Stadium last Saturday.  While the Rapids failed to capitalize on their sustained possession, they still proved to be a strong opponent both with their intense press and their defensive rotations.

It would be a Nico Fernandez Mercau brace that put NYCFC in the winning position, but the goal of the night was the Talles Magno icing on the cake that sealed the victory in the 85th minute.

This week Mike Anderer and J.R. diBart welcome Christian Smith to talk about NYCFC Legends and the game from the weekend.

Dunivant, Sims, Home Opening Shellacking

Home Opening games are meant to be a good time.  The guys from the NYCFC Forever Podcast referenced it as being akin to the first day of school as a kid.  First time in a while when you get to see your friends again.

NYCFC made sure that the fans that packed Yankee Stadium last Saturday afternoon had a good time, partially thanks to a 16th minute goal keeper gaff.

Before the guys got to talking about the game they discussed the media availability with Todd Dunivant and Brad Sims.

The Sweet Taste Of Son’s Of Ben Tears

A huge takeaway from NYCFC’s draw in Los Angeles in week one of the season was not being able to capitalize on the man advantage after LA received the red card with 30 minutes left to play.  In week two, NYCFC had less time with a man advantage, but they definitely learned from their mistakes and made Philadelphia pay the price.

This week on Blue City Radio Mike Anderer and Mike Allen discuss the road win and the fact that NYCFC is undefeated in two games to start the 2026 campaign.  In the show there is audio from Pascal Jansen, Keaton Parks and Tayvon Gray.

False Nines Giving False Hope

Stop us if you have heard this before, NYCFC need a striker.

Once again a team with so much promise and quality lacks a definitive player in the key role of striker.  Since the departure of David Villa in 2018 the club has really only seen one quality replacement as a number nine, in Taty Castellanos.  Heber had a good season with NYCFC, but he was never the same after his injury.

The start of the 2026 campaign was a stark reminder of why having such a gaping hole in the middle of the attack will limit any team’s chances on truly challenging for hardware.

This Mike Anderer, J.R. diBart and Mike Allen break the opening game of the season down.  They also share some audio from Pascal Jansen, Tayvon Gray and NYCFC newcomer, Kai Trewin.

MLS Fantasy with Favian Renkel

This week NYCFC supporters got their first real look at the 2026 squad with a livestream of the team’s preseason match against LAFC.

Spoiler alert: it looked very similar to last year’s team.  

This week Mike Anderer, JR diBart and Mike Allen chat about the game and also give some over/under predictions ahead of the start of the season.

In the second segment, Favian Renkel from Kickbase joins the show to talk MLS Fantasy.

Enter Todd Dunivant

This was a busy week for New York City FC.

First scrimmage of 2026 in the books.

Two players out on loan.

One player signing confirmed and one rumored.

First official press conferences of the season.

It feels like the new season is right around the corner because it is.  This week Mike Anderer, J.R. diBart and Mike Allen tackle all the news stories from the club and include some audio from CSO, Todd Dunivant, and head coach, Pascal Jansen.

NYCFC Preseason Begins

This week marks the official return of the players for 2026 so it is only fitting that Mike Anderer, J.R. diBart and Mike Allen return to the virtual studio to kick off their 2026 with a discussion about Talles Magno, Keaton Parks and the other returning players to NYCFC.

Justin Haak Officially Departs NYCFC

We have all experienced the feeling of not being valued at work.  Value is not about the price tag or cost, it is about the experience.  

This week former-NYCFC defender, Justin Haak, made the choice to sign with LA Galaxy.  In the move Haak reportedly signed for a lower salary than offered by NYCFC.  

This week the guys discuss the departure of the homegrown player.  They also look ahead at what key positions NYCFC need to fill once they start signing players in 2026.