LA Galaxy vs. NYCFC LIVE Updates: Nicolas Fernandez finds the equalizer from the penaly spot (1-1)

LA Galaxy and New York City FC closed out an entertaining contest with a 1–1 draw on Matchday 1 of the 2026 Major League Soccer season, splitting the points after a back-and-forth battle that delivered chances, drama, and late tension.

After switching play from right to left, Ojeda delivered a cross into the LA Galaxy penalty area, but it failed to find a teammate.

Playing a one-two with his teammate, Nicolas Fernandez shifted it onto his left foot and unleashed a shot that went just wide.

The referee decided to add seven more minutes to the game.

After a failed overhead kick, LA Galaxy striker Joao Klauss leaves his place to Matheus Nascimiento

Meanwhile, coach Jansen decided to make two more changes in NYCFC: Jonathan Shore and Talles Magno in, Kai Trewin and Hannes Wolf out.

After a strong individual run, Gabriel Pec beat Keaton Parks, but the midfielder brought the Brazilian down with a tackle, earning a yellow card.

Hannes Wolf collected the ball outside the box following a cross, but the Austrian tried his luck again and sent his shot wide.

Coach Janses decided to take the booked Tayvon Gray off, giving the opportunity to 18-year-old Andrew Baiera.

After an accurate cross from Nicolas Fernandez, Keaton Parks got his head to the ball but failed to make clean contact, sending the effort off target.

Looking for the winning goal, coach Janses decided to take Aiden O'Neill off for Keaton Parks.

After finding the equalizer, New York City FC are pushing for a winner, with Ojeda firing over the bar after receiving a pass from Hannes Wolf.

After NYCFC's equalizer and Garces' red card, coach Vanney decided to make two substitutions in a same window: John Nelson and Maya Yoshida in, Marco Reus and Julian Aude out.

On NYCFC's first shot on target, Nicolas Fernandez converted the penalty into a goal with a composed finish to his left, sending Novak Micovic the wrong way.

After review, Victor Rivas awarded a penalty to New York City FC after Nicolas Fernandez was fouled by Carlos Garces, who — already on a yellow card — was sent off.

After a well-weighted through ball for Nicolas Fernandez, Carlos Garces appeared to bring the striker down, an incident VAR is reviewing for a potential penalty.

The match is starting to heat up, this time with Julian Aude putting in a strong tackle on Hannes Wolf.

After another failed attack, LA Galaxy recovered possession at the back, and Kai Trewin brought down Lucas Sanabria with a foul that earned him a booking.

New York City FC continue to control possession, but is still far from registering a shot on target.

Victor Rivas blows the whistle, and the second half of the MLS clash between LA Galaxy and NYCFC is underway.

The first half between LA Galaxy and NYCFC concludes!

Once again from a throw-in on the left side, LA Galaxy built another attacking move, and with Raul Gustavo unable to clear the ball, Gabriel Pec unleashed a right-footed strike that was saved by Matt Freese between the posts.

Six minutes have been added to the first half of the game.

Attempting to clear the ball, Tayvon Gray struck Joseph Paintsil directly in the leg, earning the first yellow card for the Boys in Blue.

After a slide tackle over Nicolas Fernandez, LA Galaxy defender Emiro Garces saw the first yellow card of the game.

After Julian Aude drew a foul from Nicolas Fernandez, Marco Reus — the team’s set-piece specialist — whipped a shot toward the near post that nearly doubled the lead.

Still holding the 1-0 advantage, the Galaxy have dropped to their side of the pitch, giving the position to the Boys in Blue, who are struggling to produce clear chances.

After battling for position on a corner, Joao Klauss took a blow to the head and is now being evaluated by LA Galaxy medical staff.

Referee Rivas briefly stopped the game to check on Gabriel Pec, who is visibly having a discomfort in his left knee after a duel.

Following a quickly taken corner, after cutting inside, Gabriel Pec tried his luck from distance, but Matt Freese was well positioned to make the save.

Justin Haak lost possession in midfield, and with LA Galaxy caught out of position, Hannes Wolf took a shot that sailed well wide.

Recovering the ball inside the box, Joao Klauss laid it off to the edge of the area for Antonio Sanabria, whose shot lacked power and drifted wide.

After a shaky opening few minutes, the side coached by Pascal Jansen has begun to settle into possession, controlling the ball as it searches for the equalizer.

After a throw-in, LA Galaxy worked the ball down the left flank, and following a pass from Marco Reus, Joao Klauss scored his first official goal for the club.

Referee Victor Rivas blows his whistle, and the game between LA Galaxy and NFCFC is underway.

LA Galaxy and NYCFC will clash at Dignity Health Sports Park, the Galaxy’s home venue in Carson, located on the campus of California State University Dominguez Hills, with a capacity of about 27,000 fans.

Despite boasting one of the league’s most passionate fan bases, LA Galaxy struggled for results at home last season. Across 16 MLS matches at Dignity Health Sports Park, the club recorded seven wins, two draws, and seven losses, a mark well short of establishing the kind of dominance it showed in previous years.

After coming through the academy and making 111 appearances for New York City FC’s first team, Justin Haak made the decision not to renew his contract last season and instead joined LA Galaxy on a free transfer, despite being one of the club’s regular starters.

Now a starter with the Galaxy, the 24-year-old is set to face his former teammates and the organization that developed him. Viewed as a difficult player to replace, head coach Pascal Jansen opted to build a five-man back line featuring Thiago Martins alongside Raul Gustavo and Kai Trewin for the Boys in Blue.

After a disastrous 2025 Major League Soccer campaign, LA Galaxy have made a major investment in signing Joao Klauss for the 2026 season for a fee of around $2.5 million.

The Brazilian striker was acquired from St. Louis City SC with the expectation of adding goals, after producing 12 goals and two assists in 35 appearances last season. Klauss will occupy the Designated Player slot left open by Riqui Puig, who has been placed on the Season-Ending Injury List.

With 7 changes compared to the game against Sporting San Miguelito, Greg Vanney confirmed the starting XI for the 2026 MLS debut (4-3-3): Novak Micovic; Miki Yamane, Jakob Glesnes, Carlos Garces, Julian Aude; Justin Haak, Marco Reus, Lucas Sanabria; Gabriel Pec, Joao Klauss, Joseph Paintsil.

Dutch coach Pascal Jansen has confirmed the eleven players that'll be starting the game against LA Galaxy (5-4-1): Matthew Freese; Tayvon Gray, Raul Gustavo, Thiago Martins, Kai Trewin, Kevin O'Toole; Nicolas Fernandez, Maxi Moralez, Aiden O'Neill, Hannes Wolf; Agustin Ojeda.

Since New York City FC’s inaugural season in Major League Soccer (2015), the clubs have met multiple times, with the Boys in Blue holding the edge over one of the league’s most prestigious franchises, LA Galaxy.

Across 10 MLS matchups, NYCFC has recorded six wins, while the Galaxy have claimed all three points just three times, with one draw. When it comes to games played at Dignity Health Sports Park, however, the record is more balanced, with three wins for each side and one draw, parity both teams will be eager to break tonight.

Welcome to our live blog covering the matchup between Los Angeles Galaxy and New York City FC on Matchday 1 of the 2026 Major League Soccer season. Stay with us so you don't miss a single detail of the game in our minute-by-minute coverage of the action!