If you’re looking for a tactical chess match where both teams sit back and wait for a mistake, don’t watch New York City FC vs FC Dallas. Honestly, these two teams seem to have a silent agreement to just abandon all defensive structure the second they share a pitch.
It’s weird. They only play once a year because they're in opposite conferences, but the games almost always turn into a track meet.
Last July, we saw a seven-goal thriller at Toyota Stadium that basically summarized the entire identity of both clubs. New York City FC walked away with a 4-3 win, but it was the kind of game that leaves coaches with gray hair and fans wondering if "defense" is just a suggestion in MLS.
The Alonso Martínez Show in Texas
Let's talk about that July 25 matchup because it was absolutely wild. Alonso Martínez basically turned the Frisco heat into his own personal highlight reel. Scoring a hat-trick on the road is hard enough, but doing it in a game where your own defense is falling apart takes some serious nerve.
Martínez is just different. His movement off the ball against the Dallas backline was clinical. He scored in the 22nd minute, then again right after the half, and finally buried the winner in the 84th. Every time FC Dallas thought they had a handle on the game, Martínez would just ghost into a pocket of space and ruin their night.
But it wasn't just him. Maxi Moralez, the evergreen magician, was pulling the strings. Even at his age, Maxi’s vision is still probably top three in the league. He provided two assists in that game, including a beautiful ball for homegrown kid Jonny Shore’s first MLS goal.
👉 See also: Missouri vs Alabama Football: What Really Happened at Faurot Field
Why FC Dallas Can't Seem to Close the Door
Dallas fans have to be frustrated. They actually led that game 3-2 going into halftime. Logan Farrington, the rookie who’s been a bright spot for them, bagged a first-half brace. He looked like the strongest player on the field for about 45 minutes.
Then you’ve got Petar Musa. He’s the club-record signing for a reason. He scored his 12th of the season in that match, and for a while, it looked like the Musa-Farrington partnership was going to steamroll NYCFC.
But here’s the thing about FC Dallas: they have this tendency to switch off at the exact moment they need to be locked in. Giving up a goal in the 46th minute—literally seconds after the second half starts—is a massive mental error. You can’t do that against a team with the technical quality of New York.
Breaking Down the New York City FC vs FC Dallas History
If you look at the all-time record, New York definitely has the upper hand. They’ve won four times, Dallas has won once, and they’ve drawn four.
- NYCFC Goals Scored: 19
- FC Dallas Goals Scored: 14
- Recent Trend: NYCFC is unbeaten in their last five meetings.
Dallas hasn't beaten New York since 2015. Think about that for a second. That was New York's inaugural season. Since then, it's been a mix of frustrating draws and late NYCFC winners.
✨ Don't miss: Miami Heat New York Knicks Game: Why This Rivalry Still Hits Different
The games at Yankee Stadium or Citi Field are usually a bit more controlled because of the narrow pitch dimensions in New York, which favors NYCFC’s high-press style. But when they head down to the "Oven" in Texas, the game opens up. The humidity and the wide grass field at Toyota Stadium usually lead to these high-scoring disasters.
Tactical Disasters and Genius Moves
In that 4-3 game, Pascal Jansen (NYCFC's coach) tried to get cute. He played Tayvon Gray at center-back instead of his usual right-back spot to cover for an injury to Thiago Martins.
It was a mess.
The defense looked lost, and Matt Freese—who is usually a wall in goal—had one of those nights where nothing felt certain. Jansen eventually realized the mistake, subbed on Strahinja Tanasijević at halftime, moved Gray back to the wing, and the ship somewhat steadied.
On the other side, Eric Quill is still trying to find the right balance for Dallas. They switched to a 3-5-2 recently to try and control the midfield more, which worked great against St. Louis, but against New York's quick transition play, it left the wing-backs totally exposed.
🔗 Read more: Louisiana vs Wake Forest: What Most People Get Wrong About This Matchup
What to Watch for in the 2026 Season
As we head into the 2026 MLS season, both rosters are seeing some shifts. NYCFC has a lot of their core locked in, but there’s always rumors about Mitja Ilenič moving to Europe. If he goes, that right-back spot becomes a question mark again.
Dallas just picked up some interesting names in the SuperDraft and brought in some Scandinavian talent like Herman Johansson. They’re clearly trying to get more athletic in the wide areas to stop teams from overlapping them like New York did.
How to Bet or Predict This Matchup
If you’re someone who looks at the odds, here’s a tip: always take the "Over." The last few times New York City FC vs FC Dallas has appeared on the calendar, the goals have flowed. Since 2021, we've seen scorelines of 3-3, 1-0, 3-1, and 4-3.
- Home Field Matters (Sorta): NYCFC is almost unbeatable at home against Dallas because of the weird pitch.
- The "Maxi" Factor: As long as Moralez is on the field, New York will create at least three big chances.
- Dallas Counter: If Dallas can get Musa and Farrington running at a backline that doesn't include Thiago Martins, they will score.
Real Talk on the Rivalry
Is it a "real" rivalry? Not in the way the Hudson River Derby is. But it’s a "style" rivalry. It’s the possession-heavy, City Football Group philosophy against the "Burn" grit of Texas.
New York wants to pass you to death. Dallas wants to hit you on the break and use the Texas heat to tire you out. Usually, New York’s depth is what wins out in the final 15 minutes.
If you want to keep up with the next match, make sure to check the MLS schedule for the cross-conference window. These games usually happen in the mid-summer, which is exactly when the chaos factor is at its highest.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Watch the highlights of the July 2025 match to see Alonso Martínez’s movement; it’s a masterclass in exploiting a back three.
- Track the injury report for Thiago Martins before the next meeting; NYCFC’s win probability drops significantly when he isn’t anchoring that defense.
- Keep an eye on the transfer portal for FC Dallas’s defensive signings, as they are clearly one elite center-back away from being a playoff lock.