- New York City FC and Columbus Crew have each won one and drawn one of their last three meetings.
- Across their last five home encounters, NYCFC and the Crew have averaged 2.5 goals per match.
- Talles Magno has scored four goals in NYCFC’s last five games while Wessam Abou Ali has scored five in seven for the Crew in MLS 2026.
Tactical clash could be an exciting contest
Our New York City FC vs Columbus Crew preview suggests that Sunday’s game will see both teams enter level on 12 points after 11 matches played of the MLS 2026 season, and their closeness in the standings reflects their current positions in the table - 20th and 22nd respectively. The New York City FC vs Columbus Crew prediction for their last matchup at the end of last season saw NYCFC beat Columbus 3-2 at home in MLS 2025, with the last three meetings seeing one win each and a draw.
This game is a clash of two different styles of play and their respective approaches have remained similar.
NYCFC boss Pascal Jansen favours a patient, city-style possession game which sees his players press only when the situation dictates, attempting to dominate space in wide areas and then suddenly play vertical passes.
On the other hand, Columbus Crew’s Henrik Rydström, who took over in January 2026, favours a more aggressive pressing game. The Crew try to press high and then move the ball forward quickly to create turnovers, before playing fast and direct in transition.
Games between the pair have been closely fought
If you are looking for New York City FC vs Columbus Crew betting tips, keep in mind that NYCFC are in poor form having lost three of their last five matches, winning just one and drawing one, and are without a win in their last three at Yankee Stadium. They lost 2-0 at home to D.C. United just three days ago. Columbus are in better form, however, with three wins and two defeats in their last five, including a 2-0 win over the table-topping Philadelphia Union.
Columbus’ away form is a concern, with one win, one draw and three defeats played on the road in MLS 2026, scoring 1.80 goals per game and conceding 2.00 per game. NYCFC have conceded 13 goals in seven home games in MLS 2026, averaging 1.86 per match.
Both sides can score in a draw
This New York City FC vs Columbus Crew prediction highlights that with both NYCFC and Columbus Crew looking to impose their own style of play on the game and both sides struggling to maintain it for long periods of time, I’m backing this game to be a chess match in the middle of the field. NYCFC are the more patient and organised side, while the Crew are more wave-like, so both can contribute to an end-to-end game.
Over 2.5 goals is at 1.77 and Both Teams to Score - Yes at 1.56, so there will probably be goals, but neither side looks capable of holding the upper hand for long enough to win the game, so I’m expecting a high-scoring draw at 3.64. The New York City FC vs Columbus Crew prediction would favour NYCFC for the more talented attacking players in Maxi Moralez, who has six assists in 11 MLS 2026 games, and Nicolas Fernandez, who has eight goals in 11, but Columbus have an in-form striker in Wessam Abou Ali, who has five goals in his seven appearances this term, and Hugo Picard, who has also bagged five goals in the Crew’s last five.
