As the 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs tip off, New York City FC (NYCFC) travels south to take on Charlotte FC in Round One of the Eastern Conference bracket. For fans and analysts alike, this matchup offers a compelling contrast of styles, recent form and big-stage temperament. Here’s a breakdown of how both teams arrived at this point, what each brings to the table, and some lesser-known nuggets to keep in mind.
How they got here
NYCFC enter the playoffs after finishing 5th in the East. Their head coach, Pascal Jansen, has spoken of cultivating a “bullet-proof mindset” despite the team finishing the regular season with just one win in their final four matches. (more on that later)
On the other side, Charlotte FC claimed a top-four seed and the home advantage for the opening leg(s) with a 59 point season, the latest in their steady climb and increased success since inception in 2022.. Their record at home this season is formidable: 13 wins at the Bank of America Stadium, the most of any MLS club in 2025.
5 Questions to Ask:
So as this match gets underway I do have some questions I want to throw out there, some even with answers depending on how I feel here;
1) How much does scoring first matter here in Game 1? More to NYCFC than Charlotte. This season Charlotte is a staggering 11-1-1 when scoring first at home and NYCFC is 4-1-1 when scoring first on the road. The other side of that coin is both teams when giving up that first goal: NYCFC is 2-5-2 on the road and Charlotte is 2-2-0.
2) On the other side, what happens at Yankee Stadium this weekend? In my conversation with Will Palaszczuk of WFNZ and Charlotte FC’s radio play by play guy he said that the Crowns will struggle playing in a “baseball stadium.” While a slight diss to NYCFC’s venue, he’s not incorrect due to the size of the pitch. They’ve only played there twice by both matches were won by NYCFC.
3) Is the loss of Zaha relevant for game one? Yes, but not as much to me as some. Wilifred Zaha’s suspension certainly adds to the challenge for Charlotte, however the team is only 8-5-0 when he has any kind of goal contribution vs 11-1-2 when Pep Biel has one or 10-3-0 when Idan has a goal or an assist.
4) Is this the end for Maxi Moralez? Very possibly I feel. He is a free agent after this season and is 38 so you have to wonder how much he has left in the tank. IF this is his final run, how does that motivate the rest of the NYCFC roster?
5) Does losing 3 of the last four hurt NYCFC? I don’t feel so. Playoffs are the culmination of an entire season, not just one month. Or as Pascal Jansen stated when asked that question, “No”.
Obscure/Lesser-Known Facts
- Charlotte FC’s home win total (13) at Bank of America Stadium in 2025 is the highest in the league this season.
- The supporter culture in Charlotte includes a group-celebrated “Poznań” dance (arms locked behind the goal) when the crowd surges—creating one of MLS’s most vibrant atmospheres.
- In their head-to-head record (all competitions), Charlotte have held the upper hand: some sources list Charlotte with 5 wins versus NYCFC’s 2 wins and 1 draw.
- For NYCFC, this playoff run comes in the club’s 10th season, a milestone year. Their core is balancing veteran winning-experience (they won the MLS Cup in 2021) with emerging talent.
- Despite being the lower seed, NYCFC know how to win the big game: their 2021 MLS Cup victory came in dramatic fashion (penalties) and established a winning culture that still resonates.
Final Thoughts
Charlotte was the team that I didn’t want NYCFC to face due to the constant growth from the Carolina club. I feel landing in 5th for NYCFC vs 4th plays a massive factor here and will give a heavier advantage to Charlotte than it would have for NYCFC the other way around. If NYCFC can steal game one, I feel they will take the series, but taking a match in Charlotte, even game three I feel is too much to ask of the young club. Still, I’m wrong like 80% of the time which is why I come up with stats so I at least come across quasi-intelligent.
