When New York City FC went to Mexico – players' pictures

Photographs taken on a trip that NYC FC took to Mexico to play a friendly against Club Necaxa in Aguascalientes. Photograph: Courtesy of NYCFC

Earlier this month, NYC FC took a historic trip to Mexico for a friendly against Club Necaxa at Estadio Victoria in Aguascalientes. Not only was this fixture the team’s first ever game against a Liga MX side, but it was also a great opportunity for both leagues to strengthen their ties by learning more from each other.

First-team players Mikey Lopez, Khiry Shelton and Ethan White decided to chronicle the experience for the Guardian by photographing their trip. The team might have gone down 2-1, but it certainly looked like a fun experience. And some of the pictures aren’t half bad.

A view from the skies as the team’s plane hovers over Mexico. Photograph: Ethan White

NYC FC players arrive in Aguascalientes, Mexico on Thursday, October 6, 2016. Photograph: Ethan White

Moroccan midfielder, Mehdi Ballouchy, looks at the view as players descend from the plane. Photograph: Ethan White

Players load the team bus at the airport in Aguascalientes. Photograph: Mikey Lopez

Tommy McNamara watches on as Mexican fans salute the team bus. Photograph: Mikey Lopez

Medi Ballouchy and Ethan White pose after a pre-game training session. Photograph: Mikey Lopez

Necaxa fans wait outside the training ground in Aguascalientes. Photograph: Mikey Lopez

A view of Necaxa’s Estadio Victoria the day before the big game. Photograph: Mikey Lopez

The final team talk before their historic match against Necaxa. Photograph: Mikey Lopez

Andrea Pirlo greets fans after practice. Photograph: Mikey Lopez

23-year-old Khiry Shelton takes an image of his hotel room in Aguascalientes. Photograph: Khiry Shelton

Mikey Lopez takes a selfie as the teams heads to the stadium on match day. Photograph: Mikey Lopez

Mikey Lopez gives us an inside look of his dressing room inside Estadio Victoria as the team get ready to face Necaxa. Photograph: Mikey Lopez

The team load the plane as NYC FC leave Mexico after their first ever mid-season friendly against Necaxa. Photograph: Khiry Shelton

The team relaxes on the plane as they get ready to head back to New York City. Photograph: Khiry Shelton

Khiry Shelton takes full advantage of his spare seat as NYC FC get ready to depart for New York City. Photograph: Khiry Shelton