MLS Heineken Rivalry Week: #NYCvNY game on ESPN to feature pregame show, Mike Petke

David Villa celebrates the first NYCFC goal at Yankee Stadium

MLS Heineken Rivalry Week hits full gear this weekend, and Sunday's New York City FC-New York Red Bulls match is one of the highlights.


ESPN announced its coverage plans on Thursday, including moving the match to ESPN and beginning with a 30-minute pregame show that will start at 4:30pm ET.



Other highlights of ESPN's coverage include:


  • A camera embedded with the supporters' groups of each club leading up to the match to capture pregame festivities, transportation to the Bronx and the march to Yankee Stadium
  • Former New York Red Bulls player and coach Mike Petke will be a guest at halftime
  • Adrian Healey and Taylor Twellman will call the match, joined by college sports reporter Allison Williams in her first assignment as a Major League Soccer sideline reporter
  • The game will air on ESPN Deportes, with Robert Sierra and New York Cosmos head coach Giovanni Savarese, and on ESPN Deportes Radio
  • Preview segments with Twellman at Yankee Stadium on Sunday morning editions of SportsCenter
  • New York City FC midfielder Mix Diskerud will be a guest on SportsCenter at 3pm ET on ESPNEWS on Friday.
  • Petke will join Healey and Twellman for live, digital post-game coverage on ESPN FC Boot Room Extra on ESPN3 immediately following the game.
  • ESPN FC will also preview the game on its Saturday night show at 11pm ET on ESPN2


Additionally, ESPN announced that seven games have been moved to air on ESPN from ESPN2. They are:


  • June 28 - New York City FC vs. New York Red Bulls, 4:30pm ET (pregame show)
  • July 12 - New York City FC vs. Toronto FC, 3pm ET
  • Aug. 23 - LA Galaxy vs. New York City FC, 3pm ET
  • Aug. 30 - Seattle Sounders vs. Portland Timbers, 4:30pm ET (pregame show)
  • Sept. 20 - Portland Timbers vs. New York Red Bulls, 5pm ET
  • Sept. 27 - Sporting Kansas City vs. Seattle Sounders, 5pm ET
  • Oct. 18 - Flex schedule game TBA, 5pm ET