New York City FC officially kicked off its 2026 preseason press conferences on Tuesday with the club’s first media availability of the year, featuring Sporting Director Todd Dunivant. The press conference marked Dunivant’s first time addressing the media since joining the organization, offering early insight into his transition, vision, and priorities as NYCFC prepares for the upcoming Major League Soccer campaign.
Dunivant arrives in New York after a decade of experience across the USL landscape, including leadership roles with the San Francisco Deltas and Sacramento Republic FC. While the move to Major League Soccer represents a step up in visibility and expectations, Dunivant emphasized that his previous experience has prepared him well for the challenge.
“There’s always going to be a transition, any new role,” Dunivant said. “The last 10 years… have been a great proving ground for so many things. To be able to step into this role now, it’s an incredible time to be joining New York City FC and being part of this Club at this moment.”
Operating in New York City’s crowded sports market presents both pressure and opportunity, something Dunivant acknowledged while pointing to the club’s recent consistency as a foundation to build upon. NYCFC has advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals three times in the past five seasons and has remained a perennial playoff contender — a standard Dunivant believes aligns perfectly with the city’s expectations.
“New York expects winners,” he said. “That’s a big part of the identity of New York City. Our Club has shown year-after-year that type of success… Being in a big market like New York brings a lot of eyeballs, but that’s opportunity.”
One of the clearest examples of continuity amid change is the return of midfielder Maxi Moralez for the 2026 season. Now firmly established as one of the most influential players in club history, Moralez remains central to NYCFC’s identity both on and off the field.
“Bringing Maxi back was maybe the easiest decision ever,” Dunivant said. “He’s been at the heart of this Club’s identity; he brings leadership, competitiveness, creativity, and continues to produce. He deserves to be on the field.”
As NYCFC continues preseason training in Tampa, Florida, Dunivant’s comments offered a glimpse into a steady, experience-driven approach — one focused on sustaining success while navigating the demands of MLS and one of the most competitive sports markets in the world.
With preparations underway, the 2026 season represents not just a new chapter for the club, but the beginning of Dunivant’s tenure at the helm of NYCFC’s sporting vision.
