This weekend at Yankee Stadium is a big one. It's Pride Day, and the defending MLS Cup Champion Seattle Sounders are coming to town.
Leading up to this match, head coach Patrick Vieira told Soccer By Ives that Andrea Pirlo would be in the matchday squad, as Maxi Moralez will be unavailable.
Speaking about who will fill the gap left by Maxi's absence, Vieira said, "Andrea played there in Italy when he was younger, and Yangel can play any of the midfield positions. Because of his game understanding, his technical ability and he’s got the physicality as well to be the No. 10.”
Vieira had to sub out Moralez at half time on Wednesday night, but despite the result of that U.S. Open Cup match, the gaffer always relishes the challenge of playing the Red Bulls.
Elsewhere, ESPN FC caught up with Patrick Vieira, who says he's not surprised about Tommy McNamara's USMNT call-up. While the gaffer called Tommy Mac one of NYCFC's "biggest surprises," he's fully aware of just how talented the West Nyack native is.
"He was one of the biggest surprises since working with him last year," Vieira said of McNamara. "He's a really smart player who's been doing very well for us, and I'm not surprised he's made the 40-squad for the national team."
The potential U.S. international has two goals and one assist in five starts this season.
Yangel Herrera recently rejoined the squad after a heck of a run through the FIFA U-20 World Cup with Venezuela, who he captained all the way to an appearance in the final. Local outlet Hudson River Blue has a full recap of the youngster's exploits.
You can watch Herrera wrap up the tournament in his own words right here:
Over on MLSsoccer.com, Armchair Analyst Matt Doyle wrote a little bit about which teams are starting to separate themselves from the pack. Spoiler alert: NYCFC is one of those teams.
Matt is also a big fan of teenage sensation Yangel Herrera, which he points out in this video:
NYCFC's Jack Harrison had the honor of handing out the Gatorade National Boys Soccer Player of the Year award yesterday, an award he won himself back in 2015. This year's honoree is Umar Farouk Osman, and his reaction to Jack showing up at his house is absolutely priceless. Check it out:
Speaking about Umar, Jack said, "We both came to the States, went here for an education, but at the same time we're able to be here because of soccer. Through his hard work and dedication, he's driven himself to this award, and hopefully to many more things as well."
To celebrate Pride Week, we caught up with Sean Kiely and Chance Michaels, two members of the NYC community striving for inclusiveness and equality through the beautiful game.
Sean is the President of the Ramblers, an LGBT soccer league over 300 members strong and growing.
"I think for sure," says Sean, "Around the world LGBT presence in soccer has become more acceptable as people’s viewpoints change about what a soccer player is or what a soccer player should be, and who should be able to play soccer.
"And that really is the basis of what the Ramblers were founded around: finding a safe space for anyone in the LGBTQ+ community, or ally, family, or friend to play soccer."
Chance is a day-one NYCFC supporter responsible for building a community around the club before they even had a badge. He is also the first to have brought the Pride flag to the Third Rail.
"When we started up the Third Rail we wanted to help create an inclusive place for all supporters – somewhere everyone was welcome," Chance told NYCFC.
"One of the first things we did leading up to those first games in 2015 was to make flags."
