With the 2025 MLS All Star Game Wednesday night in Austin, Texas, it’s a good time to reflect on the New York Red Bulls’ season so far. Currently sitting at 9-9-6, the Red Bulls have succeeded at times, but have faulted as well.
Much of the talk heading into 2025 was if they could repeat the magic of last season and return to the MLS Cup final. To bolster their chances, New York brought in players like forward Eric Choupo-Moting and defender Alexander Hack to help them return to MLS Cup.
The signing of Choupo-Moting for the Red Bulls has looked like an excellent one for them. The former Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich player has performed well so far in 2025, netting 13 goals and two assists this season. His 13 goals have placed him tied for fifth in Major League Soccer for goals this season.
Much of Choupo-Moting’s great play can be credited to the work of his captain, Emil Forsberg. After a great but injury affected 2024, Forsberg’s play in 2025 has been incredible. The Swedish midfielder has delivered fantastic passes and has shown his signature playmaking ability often racking up nine goals and seven assists this season.
To add on to the positives for New York, they have played relatively strong at home this season, earning a record of 8-2-2. Since Sports Illustrated Stadium opened in 2010, the Red Bulls have found success at home consistently so it should be no surprise there.
Results wise, New York has seen outstanding wins at home in the first half of the season. This includes a 7-0 thrashing of the LA Galaxy in their MLS Cup rematch and a high-scoring comeback victory over the New England Revolution last Wednesday. A strong five match start to the season also provided fans with hope that this year was going to be great.
However, their 9-9-6 record only adds up to 33 points and that has them ninth in the Eastern Conference standings. So why isn’t New York up there among the likes of Nashville SC, FC Cincinnati or the Philadelphia Union?
One reason why their season has been a disappointment by many is their away record. They’re 1-7-4 away record is among the worst in the league and continues a trend they have struggled with since 2023. Whether it’s poor starts or sloppy play throughout, New York can’t find a break away from home.
Their recent form has also been upsetting. Outside their amazing 5-3 victory over New England on July 16, New York has drawn or lost every match since May 31. Saturday’s defeat to Inter Miami was embarrassing, they were outplayed by the Union a week prior, and they should have beaten the San Jose Earthquakes on the road.
Add on draws to Toronto FC and Minnesota United and a loss to Austin FC and New York is in a funk.
At this point of the season, players are not 100 percent healthy and injuries have played a role in the Red Bulls’ first half of 2025. One player who has dealt with injuries the worst this season is midfielder Lewis Morgan.
After earning Comeback Player of the Year last season, 2025 was sure to be another successful season for the Scottish international. But injuries have ruined his season again as he had surgery on his left knee back in March. Since then, he has only appeared in two matches and has been out of multiple matches recently due to a thigh injury.
Had Morgan been fully healthy, there’s no doubt the results and chemistry on the pitch would have been different. New York could have taken the pressure off of Choupo-Moting and Forsberg and Morgan would continue to create goal opportunities like he did in 2024.
For manager Sandro Schwarz, the first half of this season has been nothing like last year where they were able to consistently perform well. Their first half in 2024 provided more victories and draws than losses and the wins were very noticeable. Two wins vs a top team in MLS like Cincinnati and a 4-0 beatdown at home vs Miami is what fans want to see.
So far in 2025, fans have questioned Schwarz’s tactics and that has become especially true the last few matches. A back-three vs the Union’s great offense, a poor start vs New England and not gameplanning correctly vs Messi had fans in disbelief.
The season has also tested Schwarz with him being displeased with his team’s performance and the officials as well in some matches. Notably, Schwarz was fined following their match vs Minnesota because of irresponsible behavior and was suspended a week later vs San Jose.
With regular season play resuming on July 26, it’s time for New York to get serious. Leagues Cup starts next week, they still need to play their U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal match and they must continue their playoff streak.
The Red Bulls have not missed the MLS Playoffs since 2009 and if they continue to perform poorly, that streak will end. This is a time where players need to step up no matter if they are hurt or still young, everyone needs to contribute.
Looking at each level of the pitch, there are questions that need to be answered for all of them.
Can the backline aid goalkeeper Carlos Coronel and stop making sloppy mistakes which have resulted in 35 goals allowed this season? Will young midfielders like Daniel Edelman or Mohammed Sofo continue to develop and step up massively in the second half of the season? Who outside of Forsberg and Choupo-Moting wants to be that third reliable goal-scorer for New York?
Fans want German striker Timo Werner as a potential piece in the Transfer Window, which would be nice. But with a young player like Sofo contributing with five goals this season, could he see his game progress in the second half?
We’ll see how New York gets back on track Saturday away vs Chicago Fire FC.
