About

New York City Football Club, based in New York City, competes in Major League Soccer and has been a focal point for collectors of signed football shirts; Walkouts lists match-worn, framed and signed retail pieces with provenance for fans and museums. The club's ownership by City Football Group, Yankee Global Enterprises and Marcelo Claure is part of its modern identity, and its first league season came in 2015 as MLS's twentieth expansion side.

The side was founded on 21 May 2013, a date that marks the organisation's official beginning and helps explain why early season runs and inaugural merchandise attract attention from curators. The foundation year is widely cited as 2013, and the club's ties to New York City shape both pitch culture and shirt provenance, while participation in Major League Soccer defines the competitive context for signed and match-issued items.

Home fixtures have been staged across borough venues, most regularly at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, with multiple fixtures also played at Citi Field and temporary venues when necessary. The club's planned Etihad Park stadium and the use of alternate grounds are part of why match-issued shirts sometimes carry unusual jock tags or local event patches, details that drive collector interest and verification work.

On the field New York City FC progressed from regular season contenders to trophies, winning a headline domestic honour and claiming international silverware. The team is noted as holders of one MLS Cup and as winners of the Campeones Cup 2022, achievements that increase demand for match-day shirts and signed replicas. The club also appears in international rankings, with IFFHS listing the club at 501, a single contextual metric collectors may cite.

Collector attention centres on milestone releases and key seasons. The club marked a decade with a commemorative release in 2023 that targeted supporters and nostalgia markets, and early runs from inaugural seasons are chased for scarcity. Playoff campaigns and trophy runs such as the 2016 first playoff berth and the 2021 championship season create provenance stories that attract framed shirts and match-issued jerseys with game attribution.

Anniversary releases and colourways matter to specialists, notably the 2023 ten year commemoratives and the 2017 navy away shirts which are prized for strong away performances and unique kit trims. Fans buy and preserve fanshop retail shirts as well as match-issued items, with early retail runs, player-issue variants and region-specific releases forming a distinct market. The club's Adidas era is a recurring provenance cue, while derby provenance from the Hudson River Derby often enhances a shirt's narrative.

Signed retail shirts remain a central category, especially when accompanied by documentary evidence and authentication. Collectors prize items with 2021 season attribution and requests commonly seek items supported by COA or equivalent proof, and provenance notes that mention Yankee Stadium, Citi Field and the Campeones Cup or MLS Cup tie a garment to concrete moments. Walkouts lists these provenance details alongside imagery and grading for buyers, and the market continues to spotlight shirts from the 2016 playoff run, the 2021 MLS Cup victory and the 2022 Campeones Cup win for their collectible importance.

Collector Highlights

Iconic home kits

  • 2021 Sky blue MLS Cup first title
  • 2015 Sky blue MLS debut inaugural set
  • 2022 Sky blue Campeones Cup trophy

Iconic away kits

  • 2017 Navy MLS away wins
  • 2020 Black MLS is Back tournament set
  • 2023 Green third parks tribute

Anniversary shirts

  • 2023 10 years commemorative mark

Collector seasons

  • 2021 MLS Cup champions
  • 2022 Campeones Cup winners
  • 2016 MLS first playoff berth

Honours

New York City FC have built a credible silverware record in a short span. The club reached its domestic high point with the 2021 MLS Cup, sealing the league title after a run of consistent regular-season performances. On the international front, NYCFC delivered a landmark result by defeating Atlas to win the 2022 Campeones Cup, the first international trophy lifted by a New York-based club. Those back-to-back achievements confirmed the team as an Eastern Conference contender capable of handling big-match pressure.

In global benchmarking, IFFHS lists the club at rank 501, reflecting a growing profile in world football. While still a young franchise, NYCFC’s honours already span domestic and cross-border competition, laying a foundation for future campaigns as the club balances fixtures between existing venues and prepares for a new stadium in Queens. The Campeones Cup victory and the league title exemplify a capacity to convert opportunities into tangible success.

Legends & Leadership

David Villa is a recent key player of the mid-2010s who set the early attacking benchmark for the expansion side, translating relentless movement and finishing into a standard that helped define the club’s on-field identity.

Maximiliano Moralez is a recent key player of the late 2010s whose creativity between the lines stabilised possession and unlocked defences, giving New York City FC control in tight Eastern Conference encounters.

Sean Johnson is a recent key player of the late 2010s whose consistency and command of the penalty area underpinned resilience, turning narrow contests into results and offering calm leadership from the back.

Ronny Deila is remembered as a manager of the early 2020s, a period in which the club claimed the 2021 MLS Cup and consolidated a winning mentality, aligning structures and standards with an ambitious squad.

Stadium

Yankee Stadium has been the club’s primary stage since 2015, anchoring New York City FC’s identity and matchday rhythm in the Bronx. From 2022 a dual-venue model has seen at least six home fixtures each season at Citi Field in Queens, broadening the club’s presence across the city. When those grounds are unavailable, the team has also utilised Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, New Jersey. Derby days intensify the atmosphere, especially for the Hudson River Derby against the New York Red Bulls, when travelling support meets a charged home end. Looking ahead, the club’s purpose-built home, Etihad Park, is scheduled to open in 2027 across from Citi Field, promising a tailored football environment. Together these venues create a distinct home identity rooted in New York’s boroughs while accommodating the realities of sharing landmark arenas.

Also known as
Yankee Stadium
Capacity
28743
Local derby
Hudson River Derby New York Red Bulls city rivalry

Authentication & Provenance

  • Verification MLS vs Cup patches differ
  • Suppliers Adidas era; check jock tags
  • Provenance 2021 match-issue in demand

FAQ

Q: Which league do New York City FC compete in? A: The club plays in Major League Soccer as a member of the Eastern Conference.

Q: Where are NYCFC home matches played? A: Since 2015 the team has primarily hosted games at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, with at least six home fixtures each season at Citi Field in Queens from 2022. When those venues are unavailable, alternative sites such as Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, New Jersey have been used. A purpose-built home, Etihad Park, is scheduled to open in 2027.

Q: What are NYCFC’s major trophies? A: The club won the 2021 MLS Cup and later defeated Atlas to claim the 2022 Campeones Cup, the first international trophy won by a New York-based club.

Q: Who are NYCFC’s main rivals? A: The New York Red Bulls, with meetings known as the Hudson River Derby.

Q: How can I verify the authenticity of signed NYCFC items? A: Look for a COA or equivalent proof such as a witnessed signing or clear photo verification from a reputable source.