Red Bull New York and San Diego FC meet for the first time in a competitive fixture Saturday at Sports Illustrated Stadium, with kickoff at 7:30 p.m. ET. The match is also this season’s Noche Latina, featuring music, art and performances celebrating Hispanic and Latino communities around the stadium.
According to newyorkredbulls.com, Noche Latina is presented by Intermex and will spotlight performers and artists connected to Ecuador, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and Argentina. Mia Soleil Sanchez, an Ecuadorian and Puerto Rican vocalist, will sing the national anthem before kickoff, while Denise Gonzalez hosts the in-stadium presentation. As WDHA FM reports, the matchup marks the first time New York and San Diego FC have squared off in a competitive fixture.
Pregame Festivities on the BULLevard
The BULLevard will offer an activity based on artwork from a CEKIS mural and a live mariachi performance, according to the club. CEKIS, a Chilean artist based in Brooklyn, created the artwork featured on a bucket hat that Intermex is sponsoring; the first 10,000 fans through the gates will receive one.
The Hype House program pairs an Argentine-American DJ set by Florencia Galarza with a pop-up exhibit from the Newark Museum of Art featuring work by Edith Cordova-Zeas, Sarai Vargas and Melanie Varo. Dominican DJ MrFlavor is scheduled to perform at halftime.
Noche Latina has returned in recent seasons
The Red Bulls also held separate Noche Latina events at Red Bull Arena during matches against Austin FC on Sept. 20, 2023, and Atlanta United FC on Sept. 21, 2024, according to the club’s announcements. The 2023 event description cited music, dancing, food and outreach to local communities; the 2024 announcement highlighted entertainment, food and music. The 2023 announcement names the Association of Latino Professionals For America (ALPFA) for a pre-match event with the organization. The 2023 announcement and the 2024 announcement describe events at Red Bull Arena.
Standings and Recent Form
The teams enter Saturday separated by one point: Red Bull New York is 9-12-6 with 33 points, and San Diego FC is 8-11-8 with 32. New York has taken points in three of its last five matches, including wins over Columbus and New York City FC, according to the club’s match preview.
An 18-year-old Julian Hall scored the winning goal against NYCFC, becoming the youngest player in MLS history to reach double-digit goals in a season. He also became the league’s youngest player to record a hat trick, according to his MLSsoccer.com player profile. Hall has also scored in his first three appearances for the U.S. men’s national team.
Julian Hall's Breakout Season
MLSsoccer.com’s history notes say Hall became the youngest player to score in his first three USMNT appearances since Pele in 1957, and the youngest American to score in back-to-back matches. His season totals differ across reports: the MLSsoccer.com profile lists nine goals and four assists in 15 appearances this year, while Sports Illustrated reports 10 goals and five assists in 26 games. Sports Illustrated also reports that Hall signed through the 2029-30 season, becoming the youngest American U-22 Initiative signing in league history.
Hall’s records began before his scoring run
Hall made his MLS debut at 15 years, 190 days, then the second-youngest player to appear in a league match, behind Freddy Adu, according to MLSsoccer.com. Hall also scored a brace on the 2026 opening matchday.
Hall won't be the only name to watch. Julian Bazan ranks 10th in the Eastern Conference in phases of possession with 449 and is tied for second among conference players in aerial duels won since Matchday 23, having claimed 18 aerial challenges in that span. Captain Emil Forsberg, meanwhile, has been a consistent thorn for Western Conference opponents, recording 12 goal contributions — seven goals and five assists — across 13 career matches against teams from that side of the league.
How to Watch and What's Next
Saturday's match will air on Apple TV in both English and Spanish, with Tony Husband and Ross Smith calling the English broadcast and Diego Pessolano and Daniel Chapela on Spanish-language duty. English radio coverage streams through the Red Bull New York app and RedBullNewYork.com, with pregame coverage beginning at 7 p.m. ET via Countdown to Kickoff, presented by Toyota and hosted by Matt Harmon and Steve Jolley. Noche Latina tickets are available at RedBullNewYork.com.
Red Bull New York's schedule doesn't slow down after Saturday. The club is set to face D.C. United at Audi Field on October 14, with that match also kicking off at 7:30 p.m. ET.
