This year, the Club is partnering with Athlete Ally, a leading national nonprofit working at the intersection of sport and LGBTQ equality to end the structural and systemic oppression that isolates, excludes and endangers LGBTQ people in sport. Athlete Ally will be hosting a pre-game panel at NYCFC’s Pride Match to discuss the power of LGBTQ inclusion in and through sport. Athlete Ally Founder and Executive Director Hudson Taylor will serve as moderator and panelists, including Matt Pacifici, retired MLS (Columbus Crew) goalkeeper and Athlete Ally Pro Ambassador, will provide their unique perspectives on LGBTQ inclusion and how to lead in both sport and LGBTQ advocacy. Hudson Taylor will also be recognized as NYCFC’s Hero of the Match presented by Your Local Ford Stores on the field before kickoff.
On the pitch, team captain Alex Ring will wear a rainbow captain’s armband as a show of support and the First Team squad will wear adidas Pride training tops during warmups, the pre-game procession and national anthem on Pride Match. These tops will then be worn again when the squad walks out on the pitch for all remaining home games in June. Additionally, on June 6, the numbers of NYCFC’s jerseys will be changed to a rainbow pattern – a first in Club history. These special edition player-worn shirts and other in-stadium Pride memorabilia will then be donated to CITC, Athlete Ally and other Pride-related groups after the match.
This year for fans, NYCFC will again have Pride-themed merchandise. New Era hats, a custom-designed t-shirt and a scarf inspired by the vibrancy and spirit of NYC will be available for purchase in the team store.
Before and during the match, there will also be a number of Pride-themed in-stadium elements, including:
For a third year in a row, Tonewall – the premier pop a cappella band of the NYC Gay Men’s Chorus – will return to the Bronx to sing the national anthem
The Tunnel of Honor and Color Guard will feature members of the NYPD Gay Officers Action League
The NYCFC smoke stacks, corner flags and procession flags will all feature special Pride designs
TV personality and LGBTQ advocate Natalie Negrotti will be setting off the smoke stacks
Ladies Village Soccer, an adult LGBTQ soccer team in NYC, will also be joining NYCFC for the Club’s Pride Match and will be hosting a fundraiser for Soccer 4 Hope, an organization that uses soccer to help girls in underserved communities.
Pride 2019 | The Ladies Village Soccer Club
Brad Sims, CEO of NYCFC, said: “As New York City’s soccer team, it’s important for our Club to be a part of making our sport more representative. For three years in a row, we have hosted a Pride Match, our largest LGBTQ celebration of the year, but inclusion is something we strive to live and support year-round. This year, we are proud to partner with Athlete Ally to continue to help remove obstacles to inclusion through the power of soccer.”
NYCFC’s 2019 Pride Match follows three years of activity with expert groups in the community and NYCFC’s ongoing participation in the MLS Soccer For All campaign. In 2018, CITC teamed up with streetfootballworld to support Play Proud, a new curriculum for coaches that is designed to help young LGBTQ athletes feel safe and supported, both on and off the field. Also, one of the CITC participants was featured in a Fox Sports video highlighting LGBTQ youth. View the powerful story here. In 2017, CITC partnered with Hetrick-Martin Institute (HMI) – the nation’s largest LGBTQ youth services agency – to provide local teens a safe, inclusive space to openly discuss LGBTQ-specific topics through a pioneer series of HMI-led inclusivity workshops.
Other news - News
Other news
- 14:00 Mario Balotelli to MLS? Alessio Sundas Pushes for NYCFC Move in Bold Career Revival Bid
- 12:00 Etihad Player of the Month | Thiago Martins Scoops May Award
- 10:00 Italian Agent Alessio Sundas Aims to Revolutionize MLS with European Talent
- 08:06 Eight City Players Called Up for International Duty in June
- 12:30 Alessio Sundas Eyes MLS Revolution: After Balotelli, Gattuso Could Be Next
- 01:09 Hannes Wolf’s Late Heroics Rescue 2-2 Draw for NYCFC in Thrilling Comeback Against Nashville SC
- 19:00 NYCFC Aim to Reset vs. Nashville: “Time to Show Consistency” Says Jansen
- 18:00 Jansen Eyes Strong Start vs. Nashville: “Scoring First Changes Everything”
- 17:00 NYCFC Aim to Bounce Back Against Nashville SC: Jansen Calls for a Return to Identity
- 16:44 Mario Balotelli Eyes MLS Move: A New American Dream in the Works?
- 06:00 Injury Woes for NYCFC Ahead of Houston Clash: Four Key Players Ruled Out
- 04:00 Jansen Stresses Training Ground Mentality as Key to NYCFC Lineup Choices
- 02:00 NYCFC Gets Injury Boost as Keaton Parks Returns, but Caution Remains for Key Players
- 23:00 Jansen’s NYCFC Looks to Build Momentum With Big Night Under the Lights
- 22:20 Seymour Reid Signs Homegrown Deal With NYCFC – A Star in the Making Joins the First Team
- 14:00 Can NYCFC Ride the Momentum? Quick Turnaround Offers Opportunity Against Houston
- 12:00 NYCFC Extends Unbeaten Streak vs. Chicago Fire with Another Statement Win
- 09:51 Mounsef Bakrar Silences Doubts with Crucial Goal in NYCFC Comeback
- 16:00 NYCFC eye momentum: a pivotal home clash to spark an eastern conference climb
- 14:00 Chaos vs. Control: NYCFC and Chicago Fire Set for Explosive Showdown at Yankee Stadium
- 12:00 NYCFC vs. Chicago Fire: Can the Boys in Blue End Chicago’s Scorching Run at Yankee Stadium?
- 10:54 NYCFC vs. Chicago Fire: Key Absences for Jansen’s Side Ahead of Crucial MLS Clash
- 16:00 NYCFC Trio Named to Preliminary Gold Cup Rosters Ahead of Summer Tournament
- 14:00 NYCFC’s Push for Consistency Could Unlock Top-Four Potential in the East
- 03:00 Donald Trump Reacts to NYCFC's New $780M Stadium in Queens During UAE Visit
- 00:01 Why NYCFC Should Start Managing Maxi Moralez’s Minutes More Carefully
- 22:51 NYCFC Extends James Sands’ Loan to FC St. Pauli Through 2026
- 22:49 Why Pascal Jansen Should Consider Resting Maxi Moralez More Often at NYCFC
- 03:00 Jansen Praises Etihad Player of the Month Keaton Parks: “A Key Piece in Our Midfield”
- 01:00 NYCFC Brace for Cincinnati Clash: Jansen Outlines Plan to Stop Evander
- 23:20 NYCFC Hit with Injury Setbacks Ahead of Cincinnati Clash
- 22:53 Pascal Jansen Ready for Packed May Schedule: “This Is What You Live For”
- 19:00 Jansen Calls for Sharpness After NYCFC's 2-0 Defeat: "We Weren’t Good Enough in the Final Third"
- 18:00 MLS 2025: Market Giants Revealed – Messi and Puig Lead the Pack
- 16:00 NYCFC’s Road Form Is a Disaster. And No One Seems to Have an Answer
- 15:28 NYCFC’s Road Struggles Continue in 2-0 Loss to New England, Pascal Jansen: "The Quality Wasn’t There"
- 15:21 NYCFC Fall to New England for First Time Since 2022: "We Need to Be Better," Says Thiago Martins
- 15:08 Inter Miami Edge Columbus Crew 1-0 as Messi and Co. Shine in Front of 60,000 Fans
- 15:06 NYCFC Signs Forward Zidane Yañez to Short-Term Agreement Amid Rising Trajectory
- 15:05 NYCFC Fall 2-0 to New England Revolution Despite Late Push
- 16:00 Set-Piece Specialists: NYCFC Must Stay Sharp as Revolution Rely on Dead Ball Magic
- 14:00 NYCFC Return to Familiar Foe: Round Two Against Revs Promises Another Fight
- 08:45 NYCFC Aim to Turn the Corner: Road Test at New England Offers Momentum Check
- 15:00 Jansen Challenges NYCFC to Turn Control into Goals: “We Need to Do More with the Ball”
- 08:10 Jansen Rallies NYCFC Ahead of Union Clash: “No Excuses—We Perform, No Matter What”
- 14:19 NYCFC to Host Minnesota United Without Four Key Players
- 13:18 Pascal Jansen Emphasizes Control and Resilience Ahead of NYCFC Clash with Minnesota United
- 14:00 NYCFC Aims for Back-to-Back Wins Against Struggling Revolution
- 12:00 NYCFC vs. New England Revolution: Match Preview & Player Availability
- 10:42 NYCFC Prepares for Milestone Match Against New England Revolution at Yankee Stadium