- History: New York City FC have won three of the last five meetings, including a 3-1 success in the 2025 MLS Playoffs.
- Recent stats: City have conceded five goals in four MLS 2026 home matches.
- Head-to-head: Charlotte have won two of the past five head-to-head meetings.
Head-to-head history to impact New York City FC vs Charlotte
Standings and odds
New York City FC are 11th in the MLS 2026 standings, with 11 points from seven games so far, while Charlotte are right on their tail in 13th with the same amount of points after seven.
The early-season table suggests a close game, but New York City FC are the favorites to win this matchup at 1.84, while Over 2.5 goals at 1.8 and Both Teams to Score - Yes at 1.7 are also attractive.
Tactical battle
Pascal Jansen’s attacking, high-pressing style has been a revelation at New York City FC since he took over in January 2025, with his side playing a possession game and looking to dominate from the back.
This week’s matchup could be a chess match between two contrasting tactical identities with Jansen’s NYCFC meeting Dean Smith’s more vertically-minded team.
The Charlotte boss has stamped his mark on the team since taking over in December 2023 with a clear directness to their attack and a compact, defensive style that can also be resistant to pressure.
Head-to-head trends
Head-to-head meetings have tended to be high-scoring: New York City FC have scored 4.0 goals per game against Charlotte at home, while Charlotte have scored 3.5 goals per game on the road in these encounters, so this is likely to be an open game.
New York City FC can win a high-scoring affair
The hosts have won twice, drawn once and lost once in MLS 2026 at home field, while Charlotte have drawn one and lost one of their two away trips in the competition. They have also conceded 2.00 goals per away game in MLS 2026.
New York City FC have won only two of their last five in all competitions, drawing one and losing two, but they did record a 5-2 win in the US Open Cup before a 2-0 defeat to Vancouver Whitecaps in MLS. Charlotte have won three, drawn one and lost one of their last five in all competitions, defeating 614318 6-0 and beating Philadelphia Union 2-1 in their best performances.
Nicolas Fernandez has five goals in seven MLS 2026 games for New York City FC, but team-mate Talles Magno has hit a purple patch in recent weeks with four of his team’s last 11 goals coming in the past five games. Pep Biel has four goals in MLS 2026 for Charlotte, who will need to score to win this one and could do so if they continue their recent counter-pressing style.
We’re backing New York City FC to just edge a victory in what should be a entertaining and exciting matchup between two teams that are similar in ability, but have very different tactical identities.
- Nicolas Fernandez has five goals in seven MLS 2026 games for New York City FC, but team-mate Talles Magno has hit a purple patch in recent weeks with four of his team’s last 11 goals coming in the past five games.
- Pep Biel has four goals in MLS 2026 for Charlotte, who will need to score to win this one and could do so if they continue their recent counter-pressing style.
