By Noah Zimmerman
noah@queensledger.com
Local club New York International FC will be kicking off overseas this weekend. The Lions are headed across the Atlantic for a two game slate, taking on Bishop’s Stortfort Swifts and Clapton Community FC, two local London sides.
It’s the first trip abroad for the relatively new club, a big step forward for a team that prides themselves on international backgrounds and outreach. NYIFC will not just test their abilities in one of the most skilled soccer communities in the world, they will make long lasting connections that will boost their club for years to come.
For Jordan Trott, the trip marks a return home. The midfielder previously spent time with Bishop’s Stortfort Swifts before making the trip overseas and eventually landing in the Cosmopolitan Soccer League. He is one of many on the squad with an English background.
“It’s very exciting to be returning home to play my previous club,” said Trott. “It’ll be an exciting game and a proper meeting of two football cultures that I’ve been fortunate to experience.”
“Having my family there makes it even more special,” commented 2025-26 leading goalscorer Alex Johnston. The Scottish striker’s family made the flight to watch him play in the pair of matches.
“My nieces and nephew will be seeing me play football for the first time. My nephew’s a big football fan, so he’s probably expecting a Haaland performance out of me!” Johnston said with a laugh.
NYIFC will kick off against Bishop’s Stortfort Swifts on Friday, July 17 at 7:30pm GMT (2:30 Eastern). On Saturday the 18 they head to Old Spotted Dog Ground, the oldest football ground in England, to take on Clapton CFC. That game starts at 3pm GMT (10am Eastern).
“With all the excitement around England’s World Cup run, it’s great timing for a US team to come over and play in the UK,” added Trott.
Of course, this summer has been about far more than just the product on the pitch. For NYIFC, it sets aside more time for their community building and charity work. The Lions have done tremendous work already this year, from their endless support for EVLovesNYC, to their fundraising event at Rivercrest for St. Baldrick’s Foundation, and to their Football For the Goals membership – a United Nations initiative.
Most impressively, NY International helped EVLovesNYC secure a remarkable $15,000 mutual aid grant, a major success in the partnership between the club and foundation.
On Saturday, the club will host their annual 5K for Davide Giri, remembering a former player who was tragically killed in 2021. The inaugural 5K run the next year raised funds for a Columbia University scholarship, but after the school began to fund that themselves, the annual event has raised funds for local charities instead.
This year’s run is scheduled for 9am on July 18, ending at 10am – just in time for a watch party for NY International’s match against Clapton. It will begin at Dynamix CrossFit & Forte Lab on 20th Avenue in Astoria. The watch party will be held at Rivercrest Bar on Ditmars.
“The match being live-streamed means the world to us too,” said Johnston. “Our community back home and all across the globe get to be a part of it and cheer us on. That connection means a lot to me and to the club.”
In addition, NYIFC is hosting the “EV Loves NYC Mutual Aid Cup” next week. It will be a seven-a-side co-ed soccer tournament at Randall’s Island with games kicking off at 1pm on Saturday, July 25. All are encouraged to donate, attend, and participate.
As the 2026-27 season approaches, NYIFC can happily say they spent this summer preparing against top talent and building their community in meaningful ways.
