New York City FC midfielder Nicolás Fernández (7) celebrates his goal with New York City FC forward Agustín Ojeda (26) and New York City FC defender Kai Trewin (5) during the first half against the Inter Miami at Yankee Stadium on March 22, 2026.
Mark Smith-Imagn Images
After going toe-to-toe against Inter Miami before the March international break, New York City FC is trying to get back to winning ways against St. Louis City FC this Saturday night in Queens.
The Boys in Blue will be playing at Citi Field for the first time this season, out of four scheduled fixtures. The remaining three home matches that Citi Field will host this season will be decided later, with the MLB schedules in mind.
St. Louis City picked up their first three-points of the season against the New England Revolution two weekends ago, but now face a stern test against a resolute NYCFC.
Pascal Jansen’s men have picked up 10 points of a possible 15 so far this season, and with the MLS transfer window now closed, seem to have found a solution to their No. 9 problems.
“We’ve had a very strong start to the season,” midfielder Keaton Parks said. “I think we have a lot of good things, but we can always progress and get better. I think we are scoring lots of goals, which is great…without a true nine.”
The team’s tally of 13 goals scored — joint-second most in the league behind 2025 MLS Cup finalists the Vancouver Whitecaps and tied with the number-one Eastern team, Nashville SC — and six conceded is the fourth-best goal difference in the league.
Nicolás Fernández Mercau has started every game up front for the Boys in Blue, and has rewarded Jansen’s confidence in him with a goal a game so far and is the first Boy in Blue to score five goals in the first five games of a season.
“There’s something in having a good start … and being with the team from the beginning,” Jansen said. “The knowledge of knowing each other from last season also helps …The players around him understand his qualities more as they play together.”
The former Spanish second division striker is on track to be in contention for the MLS Golden Boot, and it will be the first time an NYCFC player has won it since Valentin Castellanos’ feat in the 2021 Cup-winning season.
The Boys in Blue have been formidable this season so far, and whilst it’s a common superstition to not look at your team’s position in the league until 10 games into a season, the Eastern Conference standings make for pretty reading for fans of the Pigeons.
Fernández Mercau has scored in three straight home matches as well, with NYCFC scoring 10 goals across the two wins and a loss.
“He’s playing in a slightly different role, but he’s found comfort there as well,” Jansen said. “He’s very productive in several ways; from set pieces, individual actions, you name it, he’s brought it into the game. This is something we anticipated once we signed him.”
St. Louis managed to overturn a 1-0 deficit against the Revolution, with Simon Becher, Chris Durkin and Marcel Hartel ensuring the Missouri side’s first three points of the calendar year.
Head coach Yoann Damet said he was “happy” for his team but said they need to “stay level-headed” and “not get carried away” by the result.
St. Louis remains tied at the bottom with Sporting Kansas City and the Portland Timbers in the Western Conference.
If they were to find a result at Citi Field, St. Louis must score more than one goal against this burgeoning NYCFC team.
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