By Alex Thierry
New York City FC will look to carry its strong domestic form into the Leagues Cup when it faces Santos Laguna on Thursday at Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, New Jersey.
HEAD-TO-HEAD:
- 1st ever meeting between the teams
- Record at Leagues Cup: New York City FC (5-6), Santos Laguna (1-7)
LAST FIVE GAMES:
- New York City FC:
- 2 Wins, 1 Draw, 2 Losses
- Santos Laguna:
- 1 Win, 0 Draws, 4 Losses
MAIN STORYLINES:
- New York City FC reached the Leagues Cup quarterfinals in 2024—the club's best finish in the competition—before a Phase One exit in 2025.
- MLS joint-top scorer Nico Fernández Mercau seeks to extend his good form.
- Santos Laguna reached the Leagues Cup knockout stage in 2024 but exited in Phase One in both 2023 and 2025.
- Santos Laguna looks to end a three-match losing streak
- The match will take place at Sports Illustrated Stadium, home of NYCFC rivals Red Bulls.
KEY FACTORS:
- New York City FC:
- Summer signing Bénie Traoré is still looking to score his first goal for NYCFC.
- Maxi Moralez leads the team with six assists
- Matt Freese was the United States’ starting goalkeeper at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
- Santos Laguna:
- Goalkeeper Carlos Acevedo was part of Mexico’s 2026 World Cup squad
- Lucas Di Yorio and Felipe Sánchez have scored the team’s two goals in the Apertura 2026.
- Ezequiel Bullaude was the club’s second-highest scorer in the Clausura 2026 with five goals — one behind Di Yorio.
WHAT TO EXPECT?
This matchup features two teams entering the Leagues Cup on opposite trajectories. New York City FC sits fifth in the MLS Eastern Conference while Santos Laguna sits at the bottom of the Liga MX table.
Nico Fernández Mercau has been one of MLS's standout performers this season and will look to continue his scoring form against a team that has allowed seven goals in its first three matches of the Apertura 2026. Alongside Andrés Perea and Agustín Ojeda, recent signing Bénie Traoré gives NYCFC another dangerous attacking option.
Head coach Renato Paiva believes Leagues Cup comes at the right time for Santos Laguna, giving his side an opportunity to continue developing its new playing style while building confidence through a demanding stretch of matches as it looks to reverse its recent form.
New York City FC enters as a clear favorite, earning nearly 63% of the market compared to just 18% for Santos Laguna, as the MLS side looks to capitalize on home-field advantage in its Leagues Cup opener.
