The air at Sports Illustrated Stadium usually smells like a mix of overpriced hot dogs and nervous energy. If you were there on August 30, 2025, you felt it. That specific, jagged tension that only bubbles up when the New York RB vs Columbus Crew rivalry hits the pitch. People call this a "classic" matchup, but that’s honestly a bit of a lazy label. It’s more like a clash of philosophies that shouldn't work together but somehow produces some of the weirdest soccer in MLS.
New York is all about the "Energy Drink Soccer"—the high press, the frantic pace, the feeling that everyone on the field just had four espressos. Columbus? They’re different. Under Wilfried Nancy, they play this beautiful, borderline arrogant possession game. They want the ball. They want to pass you into a coma.
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When these two meet, it’s rarely a blowout. It’s a chess match played at 100 miles per hour.
The Most Recent Heartbreak in Ohio
If you want to understand where these teams stand right now, look at October 18, 2025. It was the regular-season finale at Lower.com Field. The stakes? Massive. New York needed a result to keep their playoff dreams breathing. Columbus was already in, but they were playing for seeding and, more importantly, a proper send-off for a legend.
Basically, it was Darlington Nagbe’s night. The midfield maestro had announced his retirement earlier that month, and the atmosphere in Columbus was heavy.
New York actually started like they meant business. Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting—who has been a fascinating, if polarizing, addition to the Red Bulls—slotted one home in the 11th minute. Emil Forsberg provided the service, a chipped ball that was frankly world-class. For a second, it looked like the Red Bulls might actually pull off the upset and sneak into the postseason.
Then reality hit. Hard.
Columbus equalized just five minutes later through Marcelo Herrera. After that, the "Nancy-ball" machine started humming. The second half was a clinic. Dániel Gazdag came off the bench and did what he always does: found the net in the 66th minute. Then Ibrahim Aliyu put the dagger in at the 84th mark after a catastrophic backpass from John McCarthy.
Final score: 3-1.
New York went home. Columbus went to the playoffs to face FC Cincinnati. That’s the New York RB vs Columbus Crew story in a nutshell—New York brings the intensity, but Columbus often brings the poise.
Why This Rivalry Still Matters in 2026
You’ve probably heard people say the "Metro" identity is dead. It isn't. Not really. The older fans in Harrison still carry that "Metro Playoff Failure" trauma, and nothing triggers it quite like the Crew.
Historically, this is one of the most played fixtures in the league. We’re talking over 80 regular-season meetings. Columbus holds a razor-thin lead in the all-time series—34 wins to New York’s 33 (with 13 draws). It is statistically one of the most balanced rivalries in American soccer.
The Tactical Nightmare
- The Red Bull Press: Sandro Schwarz has doubled down on the aggressive 4-2-3-1. They want to trap you in your own half.
- The Crew’s Width: Columbus plays a 3-4-3 that stretches the field until the opponent's hamstrings literally give out.
- The Forsberg Factor: Emil Forsberg is the heartbeat. When he's on, New York looks like a trophy contender. When he’s marked out, they look lost.
Most folks think the Red Bulls are just a developmental wing for Leipzig. That’s a common misconception. In reality, the 2025 season showed a shift toward veteran leadership. Bringing in Choupo-Moting was a statement. They wanted goals, not just "potential." But as we saw in that October finale, veterans can't always outrun a system as cohesive as the one in Ohio.
What Really Happened in the 2024 Playoffs?
We can’t talk about New York RB vs Columbus Crew without mentioning the "Metro Miracle" of late 2024. This is the game Red Bulls fans bring up whenever they feel bullied by the Black & Gold.
Columbus was the defending champion. They were, by all accounts, unstoppable. Then they ran into a Red Bulls team that had been "lifeless" for months. In a best-of-three series that defied all logic, New York knocked out the champs.
The clincher was a 2-2 draw that went to penalties. Three missed PKs in a row for Columbus. Carlos Coronel turning into a brick wall. It was a "choke job" for the ages from a Columbus perspective, but for New York, it was the moment they proved they could punch up.
Key Players to Watch in 2026
Since we’re now looking at the 2026 season, the rosters have shifted. Darlington Nagbe is gone. That is a massive, gaping hole in the Columbus midfield. Replacing a four-time MLS Cup winner isn't something you do with a single signing.
- Sean Zawadzki (Columbus): He’s the homegrown kid everyone is looking at to step into that Nagbe-lite role. He just signed a multi-year extension.
- Robert Voloder (New York): The new German center-back. New York’s defense was leaky in late 2025, and Voloder is supposed to be the fix.
- Wiktor Bogacz (New York): A young striker with a lot of hype. If Choupo-Moting is the present, Bogacz is the future.
Looking Ahead: Mark Your Calendars
The 2026 schedule is already out. If you’re planning to catch New York RB vs Columbus Crew live, you’ve got two big dates to circle.
The first meeting is Wednesday, May 13, at Sports Illustrated Stadium. Midweek games in Harrison can be hit or miss for attendance, but the "hardcores" will be there. The return leg is Saturday, September 12, at Lower.com Field.
If history tells us anything, the September match will likely decide playoff positioning. It always does.
Actionable Insights for Fans
- If you’re betting: Look at the "Both Teams to Score" (BTTS) market. In the last five meetings, both sides have found the net in four of them. These teams don't really do 0-0 draws often (the August 2025 snoozer was an outlier).
- If you’re attending in Harrison: Get to the Crosslands or any of the Ironbound spots in Newark early. The walk over the bridge is part of the experience.
- If you’re watching on Apple TV: Pay attention to the wing-backs. That is where the New York RB vs Columbus Crew games are won or lost. If New York’s fullbacks get pinned back, it’s a long night for the Red Bulls.
The 2026 season is a fresh start, but the scars from 2025 are still pretty fresh for the New York side. Columbus is entering a post-Nagbe era, which makes them vulnerable but also unpredictable. New York is desperate to prove they aren't just a "nearly" team.
Keep an eye on the injury reports for Emil Forsberg. He’s 34 now. His availability usually dictates whether New York plays like a playoff team or a lottery team. Either way, when the whistle blows for New York RB vs Columbus Crew, expect chaos. It’s the only thing these two teams consistently deliver.