San Diego FC Loses 3-1 in Preseason Debut Against New York City FC

San Diego FC (SDFC) faced New York City FC in its first-ever public preseason match at the 2025 Coachella Valley Invitational, losing 3-1. Defender Paddy McNair scored for SDFC in the 19th minute, assisted by Hirving 'Chucky' Lozano and Anders Dreyer. However, NYCFC quickly equalized and pulled ahead with goals from Alonso Martínez and Mounsef Bakrar. A potential equalizer from SDFC's Aníbal Godoy was disallowed, leading to a disappointing debut for the expansion team. SDFC's head coach Mikey Varas expressed that the match provided clarity on the team's needs moving forward, highlighting the importance of the connection between Lozano and Dreyer. The club is set to play against the Portland Timbers next before starting its inaugural season on February 23.