New York Red Bulls legend Bradley Wright-Philips is hyped about the upcoming Hudson River Derby, feeling like it can really shake things up for either New York City FC or the Red Bulls. Both teams have been a bit all over the place this 2025 MLS season, with 18 points each from 13 games so far. The match is set to take place at Citi Field on Saturday, May 17, and Wright-Philips believes that a strong performance in this derby could turn the tide for either team.
According to Wright-Philips, these derby games have the potential to be real game-changers, sparking a positive streak that could propel a team to greater success. He mentioned, “I think both teams are in a weird place. Every time I watch them… I feel like they should be doing better. But I will say it’s games like the Hudson River Derby that you can kick on from in a season. You win that and all of a sudden, it’s just upwards from there. So, both teams have a huge opportunity and incentive to go out and win.”
Despite the Red Bulls having the upper hand in the last derby with a 2-0 victory, NYCFC managed to outshine their rivals in the 2025 season, including a whopping 5-1 win at Red Bull Arena. Wright-Philips thinks that the Red Bulls will be eager to make up for that loss, highlighting the significance of derby matches in the soccer world. He also praised both clubs for nurturing young talents through their academies, a shift he believes will benefit not only the teams but also the USMNT in the long run.
