New York City FC was founded in 2013 and began competing in Major League Soccer in 2015, making it the first professional soccer club based within New York City proper. The club was established through a partnership between City Football Group — the Abu Dhabi-backed conglomerate that also owns Manchester City — and Yankee Global Enterprises, owners of the New York Yankees baseball team. This dual identity, rooted in both global soccer infrastructure and iconic New York sports culture, has shaped the club's character from the outset.
NYCFC hit the ground running in terms of profile, signing marquee players including David Villa, Frank Lampard, and Andrea Pirlo in its early years. Villa in particular became a defining figure, earning the 2016 MLS MVP award and becoming the club's all-time leading scorer before departing in 2019. Head coaches Patrick Vieira and later Domènec Torrent brought a possession-based, tactically refined style of play that reflected the club's City Football Group DNA.
After several years of strong regular-season performances without a championship, NYCFC claimed the 2021 MLS Cup, their first and to date only league title. The following year, they added their first international trophy by defeating Club Atlas in the 2022 Campeones Cup, becoming the first New York-based soccer club to win an international competition.
The club has played home matches primarily at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, with additional fixtures at Citi Field in Queens. A dedicated soccer-specific stadium, Etihad Park, is scheduled to open in 2027. Their principal local rivalry is the Hudson River Derby against the New York Red Bulls, the region's other MLS club.