Two clubs. One city. A rivalry that deserves way more attention than it gets.
New York is the biggest city in the United States. It has two NFL teams, two NBA teams, two MLB teams, and two NHL teams. So of course, it also has two MLS clubs and a rivalry between them that somehow still flies under the radar for most casual soccer fans in America.
The Hudson River Derby, as it is officially known, is one of the most genuinely compelling storylines in American soccer. It has everything you could ask for: contrasting identities, passionate supporters, geographical bragging rights, and a history of matches that have consistently delivered drama. Yet outside of New York, most fans couldn’t tell you the last time these two sides met.
That ends today. Here is everything you need to know about the rivalry nobody talks about.
Two clubs, two worlds
Before diving into the matches themselves, it is worth understanding just how different these two clubs are because the contrast between them is a huge part of what makes this rivalry so compelling.
The New York Red Bulls are one of the founding members of MLS. They have been around since 1996, originally known as the MetroStars, and carry with them the history and baggage of the league’s early, chaotic years. They play in Harrison, New Jersey (yes, technically not New York) at Red Bull Arena, a compact and loud stadium that regularly generates one of the best atmospheres in the league. Their supporters group, the Empire Supporters Club, is one of the oldest and most organized in American soccer.
NYCFC, on the other hand, is the new kid. Founded in 2013 and entering MLS competition in 2015 as a joint venture between Manchester City’s parent company City Football Group and the New York Yankees, they arrived with money, ambition, and a very modern approach to the game. They play at Yankee Stadium, a baseball stadium that was never designed for soccer and creates one of the more bizarre visual experiences in the sport, with the pitch squeezed into a venue built for an entirely different game.
Old guard versus new money. New Jersey versus the Bronx. Grit versus gloss. The identity clash alone is enough to fuel a great rivalry.
The early years : Red Bulls on top
When NYCFC entered the league in 2015, the Red Bulls wasted no time making them feel unwelcome. The early editions of the Hudson River Derby were largely dominated by the Red Bulls, who had the experience, the organization, and the hunger to put their new neighbors in their place.
Those early matches set the tone for what this rivalry would become. They were physical, intense, and loaded with genuine animosity. Players on both sides understood what was at stake, and so did the fans. The atmosphere inside both stadiums during Derby week was unlike anything else in MLS.
Red Bulls fans loved nothing more than reminding NYCFC supporters that all the corporate backing in the world could not buy history or authenticity. NYCFC fans fired back by pointing at their team’s slick style of play and growing fanbase in the five boroughs.
NYCFC grows up
As the years went on, NYCFC began to close the gap. The club invested smartly in its roster, developed a clear tactical identity under a series of capable coaches, and built a fanbase that was genuinely passionate rather than just corporate window dressing.
The rivalry became more balanced, and with that balance came better matches. Leads were overturned. Last minute goals changed everything. Red cards flew. Both sets of supporters had moments of pure ecstasy and moments of absolute agony.
NYCFC’s MLS Cup victory in 2021 was a landmark moment for the club and changed the conversation entirely. Suddenly, they were not just the flashy newcomers anymore. They were champions. And that made beating them in the Derby mean even more for Red Bulls fans, while giving NYCFC supporters a new level of confidence heading into every edition of the fixture.
Why it deserves more attention
The Hudson River Derby never gets the national coverage it deserves, and there are a few reasons for that. American sports media still treats soccer as a secondary sport in most markets. The rivalry does not have the decades of history that El Trafico between LA Galaxy and LAFC has started to build, and it lacks the cinematic storylines that tend to attract casual viewers.
But in terms of raw quality and atmosphere, this Derby consistently delivers. The stakes are always high. The matches are almost always competitive. And the hatred respectful, soccer flavored hatred between the two fanbases is as genuine as anything you will find in American sports.
New York is a city that runs on competition and argument. Everyone has an opinion, everyone thinks their side is right, and nobody backs down. That energy translates perfectly onto the soccer field when these two clubs meet.
The future
With the 2026 World Cup coming to the United States and soccer’s profile rising faster than ever across the country, there has never been a better time for the Hudson River Derby to get the spotlight it deserves. Both clubs are investing in their rosters, both fanbases are growing, and the stakes in every edition of the fixture keep rising.
If you have never watched a NYCFC vs Red Bulls match, do yourself a favor and tune in for the next one. You will understand immediately why New Yorkers take this rivalry so seriously.
Because in a city full of loud opinions and passionate arguments, this is one of the best ones going.
Are you a Red Bulls fan or a NYCFC fan? Let us know in the comments.