Nico Tobon fell in love with NYCFC the first time he laid eyes on the club.
On a Sunday afternoon in July during City’s inaugural season, Tobon’s cousin took him to his first match. From the 200 level of Yankee Stadium, opposite the supporters section where Tobon would later establish himself as a premier voice of the fans, they watched City score four second-half goals to defeat Orlando City SC 5–3.
Andrea Pirlo came on in the 56th minute to make his Major League Soccer debut. David Villa scored twice. Kwadwo Poku had three assists. Tobon was hooked.
“There was no doubt,” said Tobon. “That [was] something I wanted to be a part of.”
Tobon, better known as “Chop Cheese FC,” is a New York-based content creator who makes videos about sports fans at games. At each NYCFC home match, you’ll find him in the supporters’ section interviewing others. He’s also a co-host of the New York Nobodies podcast, which provides weekly commentary on NYCFC.
The “Chop Cheese” moniker was inspired by the popular New York City bodega sandwich — a chopped cheese. Tobon thought the name was funny and represented the city well. There was nothing more “New York City” than a chopped cheese, he said.
Tobon, a native of Long Island, was living in Maryland in 2015. He started watching soccer just one year earlier, during the 2014 World Cup. When he moved back to New York and began following the Boys in Blue more closely, he felt that the club and its supporters didn’t get enough love.
He had always wanted to be a content creator. And City’s status as an expansion club with a young fan base felt like the perfect opportunity. Tobon loved the culture. He wanted others to see it, too.
“I felt like the coverage was lacking,” Tobon told amNewYork. “And I was like, ‘Well, there’s no better person than me to show it.’”
In the summer of 2022, he began posting videos as “Chop Cheese FC.” He now has over 4,000 followers on Instagram.
Tobon’s videos are simple, but capture the essence of City’s supporters. Every match, he straps on a wireless microphone to his Sony camera and goes up to other fans to capture their emotions — before, during, and after the match.
“The energy was so special,” he said. “That needed to be given that spotlight, and I’m blessed to be able to be a part of this culture. It’s something I love more than anything.”
‘He’s out there capturing the essence of what the stands are’
City supporters had gotten a bad rap over the club’s early years. A 2019 HuffPost article detailed the infiltration of the supporters section by far-right extremists — and the fans’ efforts to have them banned.
The supporters section is not like that, according to Lorenzo Roman, an NYCFC fan who met Tobon when he began following the club in 2019. Tobon’s content, he said, has helped build the supporters’ reputation into a loyal, passionate collective.
“We’re genuine New Yorkers,” Roman said. “All from different parts of the city, or even from far out, from Long Island, all here to support our club.”
No one is closer to the club’s heartbeat than Tobon. While the match is on, Roman said he’s focused on his own energy. But he knows Tobon is doing his part to document the fans’ vibe.
“He’s out there capturing the essence of what the stands are,” Roman said. “The passion, the energy, the drama, the highs, the lows, that’s what he does. I view him more as a frontline reporter guy. He’s in the thick of it, getting all the info and whatnot. That’s what you want, authentic shit.”
The raw authenticity of documenting the fans from inside the supporters section on a weekly basis is what sets Chop Cheese apart, according to Cesar Hernandez, who co-hosts the New York Nobodies podcast with Tobon and their friend, Felix Palao.
Hernandez and Tobon met in 2019 through a watch party hosted by The Third Rail, City’s first recognized independent supporters group. Hernandez saw an opportunity to expand Chop Cheese. He had a degree in broadcast journalism from Brooklyn College, and figured that a podcast was the next step.
Hernandez said that the crew was happy with where they were at, but that the key to growing the Chop Cheese and New York Nobodies following was to keep their content relatable to other fans. He added that they were working on multiple projects related to Chop Cheese.
“It’s so organic,” Hernandez said. “Basically, it’s like any one of us is covering what actually happens in the stands, so I feel like a lot of people can relate to it.”
‘It’s a blessing that people like what I do’
Tobon’s coolest moment, without a doubt, was his post-match shirt exchange earlier this season with City right-back Mitja Ilenič. Tobon met Ilenič last year at an NYCFC end-of-season event. His camera was around his neck, microphone in hand. He didn’t ask Ilenič for anything.
“I feel like, since that day, [Ilenič] was like, ‘Oh, this guy doesn’t just want me for content or clicks,” said Tobon.
Tobon said that he and Ilenič message daily. After NYCFC’s 2-1 win over the New England Revolution on March 15, he met Ilenič outside Yankee Stadium.
“I love the stuff he posts,” Ilenič said. “I gave him my jersey. He gave me his ‘Chop Cheese’ shirt. It just feels nice to have all of these people supporting us in good and bad.”
“To have a player from my favorite team give me the shirt off his back that he wore in-game, that’s as cool as it gets,” Tobon said. “That’s something I’ll tell my grandkids about.”
Tobon said he also exchanged shirts with Mounsef Bakrar at the end of the 2023 season, at an away match against D.C. United. Seeing not only the fans, but City’s players appreciate his content is enough to put a smile on his face.
“It’s a blessing that people like what I do,” said Tobon. “I don’t take myself too serious. I like to joke around a lot, but from the bottom of my heart, the fact that the fans of NYCFC embrace me more than anything …”
He tapped his chest.
“It hits right here.”
