Just two weeks after NYCFC earned a 3-1 victory over the Red Bulls in the U.S. Open Cup, the rivalry renews with both clubs entering the match level on 18 points. The Red Bulls (5-5-3, 18 pts.) will look to close out their two-match homestand on a high note, while NYCFC (5-5-3, 18 pts.) aims to continue its recent success in the rivalry.
Saturday marks the 28th all-time regular season meeting between the two New York clubs, with NYCFC holding a slight edge in the series at 12-11-4. Despite that advantage, the Red Bulls have historically dominated at home, posting a 12-5-2 record against NYCFC across all competitions at Sports Illustrated Stadium.
One of the biggest storylines entering the match is the rise of Red Bulls forward Julian Hall. The 18-year-old Manhattan native is coming off a historic performance after recording his first MLS hat trick in a thrilling 3-2 win over Columbus Crew. At 18 years and 50 days old, Hall became the youngest player in MLS history to score a hat trick.
Julian Hall is the youngest player in MLS history to score a hat trick. 🎩🎩🎩 pic.twitter.com/v5xX4TBCsc
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) May 14, 2026
Hall has quickly emerged as one of the league’s most dangerous young attackers, scoring nine MLS goals this season which is tied for the fourth-most in MLS. He has also found success against NYCFC, scoring in back-to-back matches against the club across all competitions, both at Sports Illustrated Stadium.
Red Bulls head coach Michael Bradley praised Hall’s continued development and the impact he has made heading into Saturday’s rivalry clash.
“We try to make his game even more complete and continue to raise the bar for him in as many ways as possible,” Bradley said. “He has been really, really important for us his presence, speed, work rate, goal scoring, and understanding of how to come off defenders. He has taken our ideas of football and really gone with it. We push the group to improve every day, and we’re going to count on Julian in a big way.”
With playoff positioning already becoming a factor early in the season, Saturday’s matchup carries extra significance. A victory would not only deliver bragging rights in the latest chapter of the Hudson River Derby, but also provide a crucial swing in the Eastern Conference standings as both teams battle for momentum.
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. Saturday night at Sports Illustrated Stadium.
