New York City FC vs LAFC preview: October 17, 2026
New York City FC (8-9-12 W-D-L, 33 pts, 10th) host LAFC (12-9-9 W-D-L, 45 pts, 6th) at Citi Field, New York, New York on October 17, 2026 in the 2026 MLS.
Preview · Kickoff October 17, 2026 at 7:30 PM ET · Statistics through October 14, 2026 · Updated October 16, 2026 at 12:29 AM ET · After the match, this page shows the final result and match statistics
How do New York City FC and LAFC compare heading into their match?
New York City FC are 10th in the Eastern Conference with 33 points from 29 matches (8-9-12 W-D-L); LAFC are 6th in the Western Conference with 45 points from 30 matches (12-9-9 W-D-L).
New York City FC score 1.4 (11th fewest of 30) and concede 1.4 (7th fewest) per match. LAFC score 1.6 (15th most of 30) and concede 1.1 (3rd fewest) per match.
Expected goals per match: New York City FC 1.4 for and 1.5 against; LAFC 1.5 for and 1.2 against.
New York City FC at home: 4-4-6 W-D-L in 14 (1.9 scored, 1.5 conceded per match). LAFC away: 3-6-6 W-D-L in 15 (1.2 scored, 1.3 conceded).
Last 5 MLS matches: New York City FC 1-1-3 W-D-L, LAFC 1-2-2 W-D-L.
Both teams scored in 19 of 29 (66%) New York City FC matches and 14 of 30 (47%) LAFC matches; 3 or more goals in 15 of 29 (52%) and 15 of 30 (50%).
1 earlier stored meeting: New York City FC 0, LAFC 1, draws 0.
MLS matches this season only (New York City FC 29, LAFC 30); ranks are among 30 clubs, 1st = the most. These are records so far, not a prediction.
Record, Away and Home cover the complete 2026 MLS season. Last 5 is the 5 most recent 2026 MLS matches. In parentheses: goals for and against per match. Records read wins, draws, then losses (W-D-L).
What matters in this match
New York City FC attack against LAFC defense
New York City FC attack and LAFC defense, 2026 MLS per match
New York City FC for
LAFC against
Goals per match
1.4 (19th)
1.1 (28th)
Expected goals (xG) per match
1.4 (23rd)
1.2 (25th)
Shots per match
11.7 (27th)
13.1 (15th)
Shots on target per match
4.7 (19th)
4.1 (23rd)
Big chances per match
2.3 (21st)
1.7 (29th)
Shots inside the box per match
7.7 (27th)
7.7 (25th)
Corners per match
3.7 (30th)
5.1 (15th)
LAFC attack against New York City FC defense
LAFC attack and New York City FC defense, 2026 MLS per match
LAFC for
New York City FC against
Goals per match
1.6 (15th)
1.4 (24th)
Expected goals (xG) per match
1.5 (15th)
1.5 (16th)
Shots per match
14.4 (5th)
12.2 (23rd)
Shots on target per match
4.8 (15th)
4.8 (17th)
Big chances per match
2.5 (15th)
2.1 (21st)
Shots inside the box per match
9.2 (11th)
8.1 (20th)
Corners per match
6.1 (2nd)
4.8 (20th)
Each club’s attacking figures beside what the other club has conceded per match. Rank 1st = the most in the competition, for chances created and for chances allowed alike.
Home and away
New York City FC and LAFC: the splits for this venue, 2026 MLS
New York City FC, home matches
LAFC, away matches
Matches
14
15
Record
4-4-6 W-D-L
3-6-6 W-D-L
Goals scored per match
1.9
1.2
Goals conceded per match
1.5
1.3
Clean sheets
3 of 14 (21%)
5 of 15 (33%)
Failed to score
3 of 14 (21%)
4 of 15 (27%)
Both teams scored
9 of 14 (64%)
8 of 15 (53%)
2 or more match goals
12 of 14 (86%)
10 of 15 (67%)
3 or more match goals
9 of 14 (64%)
8 of 15 (53%)
Scoring patterns
New York City FC and LAFC: how their MLS matches went
New York City FC
LAFC
Clean sheets
5 of 29 (17%)
13 of 30 (43%)
Failed to score
6 of 29 (21%)
6 of 30 (20%)
Both teams scored
19 of 29 (66%)
14 of 30 (47%)
2 or more match goals
25 of 29 (86%)
21 of 30 (70%)
3 or more match goals
15 of 29 (52%)
15 of 30 (50%)
4 or more match goals
7 of 29 (24%)
11 of 30 (37%)
Goals per match, 1st half
0.9 for, 0.5 against (27 matches)
0.7 for, 0.5 against (29 matches)
Goals per match, 2nd half
0.6 for, 0.8 against (27 matches)
0.9 for, 0.6 against (29 matches)
Counts from stored final scores and half-time scores, with the number of matches. Match goals are both clubs’ goals.
Full team comparison
New York City FC and LAFC, 2026 MLS
Per match
New York City FC
LAFC
Expected goals (xG)
1.4 (23rd)
1.5 (15th)
Expected goals (xG), opponents
1.5 (16th)
1.2 (25th)
Shots
11.7 (27th)
14.4 (5th)
Shots, opponents
12.2 (23rd)
13.1 (15th)
Shots on target
4.7 (19th)
4.8 (15th)
Shots on target, opponents
4.8 (17th)
4.1 (23rd)
Big chances
2.3 (21st)
2.5 (15th)
Big chances, opponents
2.1 (21st)
1.7 (29th)
Possession %
53.6 (7th)
46.6 (24th)
Passes
500.7 (5th)
477.7 (13th)
Passes, opponents
432.4 (24th)
550 (1st)
Corners
3.7 (30th)
6.1 (2nd)
Corners, opponents
4.8 (20th)
5.1 (15th)
Fouls
11.2 (17th)
11.0 (20th)
Fouls, opponents
13.4 (3rd)
10.9 (23rd)
Yellow cards
1.6 (29th)
1.8 (20th)
Yellow cards, opponents
2.7 (1st)
1.9 (14th)
Shots inside the box
7.7 (27th)
9.2 (11th)
Shots inside the box, opponents
8.1 (20th)
7.7 (25th)
Big chances missed
1.5 (18th)
1.8 (4th)
Big chances missed, opponents
1.3 (23rd)
1.4 (18th)
Offsides
2.5 (1st)
1.9 (11th)
Offsides, opponents
1.7 (14th)
1.4 (22nd)
Pass accuracy %
84.5 (16th)
84.6 (15th)
Pass accuracy %, opponents
82.7 (23rd)
86.9 (7th)
Long balls
51.5 (3rd)
43.6 (20th)
Long balls, opponents
46.4 (13th)
35.8 (30th)
Long balls completed
24.4 (9th)
22.7 (12th)
Long balls completed, opponents
19.9 (28th)
18.5 (30th)
Crosses
13.5 (26th)
16.3 (13th)
Crosses, opponents
14.7 (22nd)
17.4 (11th)
Crosses completed
3.3 (26th)
4.2 (10th)
Crosses completed, opponents
3.7 (20th)
3.8 (17th)
Dribbles completed
7.0 (6th)
7.2 (5th)
Dribbles completed, opponents
6.5 (8th)
6.5 (6th)
Tackles
16.3 (5th)
15.1 (9th)
Tackles, opponents
14.3 (16th)
15.6 (10th)
Interceptions
7.9 (26th)
8.3 (25th)
Interceptions, opponents
9.3 (13th)
8.4 (20th)
Clearances
22.1 (14th)
21.6 (17th)
Clearances, opponents
18.4 (27th)
22.2 (9th)
Ground duels won
36 (2nd)
32.5 (12th)
Ground duels won, opponents
31.2 (17th)
32.4 (13th)
Aerial duels won
10.1 (13th)
8.0 (25th)
Aerial duels won, opponents
10.1 (17th)
7.5 (29th)
"Opponents" rows are what each club’s opponents recorded against it. Averages over the matches that publish each statistic; rank among 30 clubs.
Players with a StatsNext page, the leading goal contributors by position. Appearances and totals are this MLS season; last 5 is the player's last five stored appearances. Prop research links open the player's StatsNext prop pages: how often statistical thresholds were reached, never sportsbook lines or prices. No prop page means too few appearances with the statistic at a typical market level so far; the player page still has every stored statistic.
About this preview
Everything here is a stored result or statistic with its sample; nothing is a prediction, pick or projection.
Lineups, injuries and current markets change through the day and are in the app, with Match Research for this match.
This page shows statistics and results only. It contains no sportsbook prices or betting lines. Current markets and StatsNext research are in the app.
