NYCFC news roundup: The 2025 Leagues Cup, Thiago Martins, and more | OneFootball

New York City FC just had one of the team's best road trips in a while. After an insane win against FC Dallas, in which the Pigeons won 4-3, they officially went 2-1-1, earning seven points. Now, they will begin the Leagues Cup this Tuesday.

At this time, there are a few things to cover. So, here is the next NYCFC news roundup.

Thiago Martins' injury

In case anyone missed the news, Thiago Martins is out for the next four to six weeks. The captain had knee surgery, which was a little shocking to hear since there was no indication that he was hurt. Still, he will not be able to train until he has recovered.

As a result, it could be two months or more until fans see him in a game again. Hopefully, it will not take that long, but fans must prepare that he will miss a good chunk of the season.

NYCFC II's home venue

The club announced that NYCFC II will play the rest of their home games at Icahn Stadium on Randall's Island. This was an intriguing announcement since, excluding the game on Saturday, July 26, the MLS Next Pro side was already scheduled to play there for the remaining matches.

The question, though, will be whether supporters attend the games. Belson Stadium is easier to get to compared to Icahn Stadium. While unique, Randall's Island is off the beaten path. Ideally, the team will continue their stronger home record there. Sadly, they are off to a bad start, for NYCFC II lost there on Saturday to the Philadelphia Union II.

The Leagues Cup roster

NYCFC's Leagues Cup roster will look slightly different from their Major League Soccer roster. That is because off-rostered Homegrown players and others from the MLS Next Pro team can be a part of the tournament. Therefore, it was not surprising to see some of the younger players listed for the Leagues Cup.

Homegrown players who are off-rostered, like Alex Rando, are with the squad. Then, NYCFC II standout Sebastiano Musu, who recently impressed in his MLS debut, is also available for the Leagues Cup.

Of course, injured players like Martins and Keaton Parks are not on the roster. But striker Mounsef Bakrar, who is the subject of transfer rumors, is also not listed. One can assume he will be leaving the team soon based on this.

NYCFC has a decent squad heading into the Leagues Cup. Whether they move on is up in the air since it is much harder this season to move beyond the opening round.