After a four-game road trip in Major League Soccer, New York City FC began the team’s 2025 Leagues Cup journey against Club Puebla. While considered a home game, the Pigeons were at Sports Illustrated Stadium, formerly known as Red Bull Arena, and many fans tend to choose not to attend these games. Regardless, the home side played like they were on the road, for they lost 3-0.
Since this was considered the least difficult game on paper, some of the changes to the roster were slightly shocking since NYCFC needed to win. It made sense to rest Maxi Moralez and start Nicolás Fernández Mercau.