2026 Chicago Fire FC season

Chicago Fire FC
2026 season
OwnerJoe Mansueto
Head coachGregg Berhalter
StadiumSoldier Field
(capacity: 61,500)

The 2026 Chicago Fire FC season will be the club's 29th season in Major League Soccer. The season will be the seventh season under owner Joe Mansuetto, and the second with Gregg Berhalter as head coach.

Current squad

Players signed as of November 1, 2025[1]

No. Name Date of birth (age) Date Joined Previous club Player Notes
Goalkeepers
1 Chris Brady (2004-03-03) March 3, 2004 March 24, 2020 Chicago Fire Academy Homegrown
25 Jeff Gal (1993-04-06) April 6, 1993 January 11, 2023 Degerfors IF
44 Josh Cohen (1992-08-19) August 19, 1992 December 31, 2025 Atlanta United
Defenders
2 Leonardo Barroso (2005-06-16) June 16, 2005 January 14, 2025 Sporting CP B International
U-22
3 Jack Elliott (1995-08-25) August 25, 1995 December 16, 2024 Philadelphia Union TAM
4 Mbekezeli Mbokazi (2005-09-19) September 19, 2005 December 2, 2025 Orlando Pirates F.C. International
U-22
5 Sam Rogers (1999-05-17) May 17, 1999 January 13, 2025 Lillestrøm SK
14 Viktor Radojević (2004-07-14) July 14, 2004 August 22, 2025 FK TSC International
U-22
15 Andrew Gutman (1996-10-02) October 2, 1996 December 12, 2023 Colorado Rapids
16 Joel Waterman (1996-01-24) January 24, 1996 August 20, 2025 CF Montréal International
24 Jonathan Dean (1997-05-15) May 15, 1997 January 12, 2023 Birmingham Legion FC
38 Christopher Cupps (2006-05-26) May 26, 2006 February 18, 2025 Chicago Fire Academy Homegrown
Midfielders
6 Anton Salétros (1996-04-12) April 12, 1996 November 7, 2025 AIK International
7 Maren Haile-Selassie (1999-03-13) March 13, 1999 December 27, 2022 FC Lugano International
8 Chris Mueller (1996-08-29) August 29, 1996 May 5, 2022 Hibernian F.C.
10 André Franco (1998-04-12)April 12, 1998 (aged 27) August 13, 2025 FC Porto International
TAM
11 Philip Zinckernagel (1994-12-16) December 16, 1994 January 6, 2025 Club Brugge KV International
TAM
17 Robin Lod (1993-04-17) April 17, 1993 December 26, 2025 Minnesota United
19 Jonathan Bamba (1996-03-26) March 26, 1996 January 21, 2025 RC Celta de Vigo DP
International
22 Mauricio Pineda (1997-10-17) October 17, 1997 January 17, 2020 North Carolina Tar Heels
27 Dylan Borso (2006-06-02) June 2, 2006 December 20, 2024 Wake Forest Homegrown
29 David Poreba (2002-12-01) December 1, 2002 December 12, 2024 Chicago Fire FC II
35 Sergio Oregel (2005-05-16) May 16, 2005 October 23, 2021 Chicago Fire Academy Homegrown
37 Robert Turdean (2010-01-14) January 14, 2010 January 22, 2025 Chicago Fire Academy Off-Roster Homegrown
42 Djé D'Avilla (2003-05-05) May 5, 2003 April 1, 2025 U.D. Leiria International
U-22
Forwards
9 Hugo Cuypers (1997-02-07) February 7, 1997 February 6, 2024 Gent International
Designated Player
12 Puso Dithejane (2004-06-24) June 24, 2004 January 13, 2026 TS Galaxy F.C. International
U-22
20 Jason Shokalook (2002-09-30) September 30, 2002 December 10, 2025 Chicago Fire FC II
28 Dean Boltz (2006-06-07) June 7, 2006 December 20, 2024 University of Wisconsin

Loaned Out

No. Name Date of birth (age) Date Joined Loaned To
26 Omari Glasgow (2003-11-22) November 22, 2003 December 17, 2024 Monterey Bay FC
47 Sam Williams (2005-03-18) March 18, 2005 March 14, 2025 Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC


Player movement

Returning, options, and new contracts

Date Player Position Notes Ref
November 26, 2025 Jack Elliott DF Option exercised [2]
November 26, 2025 David Poreba MF Signed to a new contract for 2026 with options for 2027 and 2028 [2]
November 26, 2025 Sam Williams MF Option exercised [2]
January 1, 2025 Omari Glasgow MF Returned from loan to Loudoun United FC [3]

In

Date Player Position Previous club Notes Ref
November 7, 2025 Anton Salétros MF AIK Transferred from AIK on a contract through 2028 [4]
November 7, 2025 André Franco MF FC Porto Acquired from Porto permanently after a successful loan stint on a contract that runs through the middle of 2028 with an option for the remainder of the year [5]
December 2, 2025 Mbekezeli Mbokazi DF Orlando Pirates F.C. Acquired as a U-22 initiative player from Orlando on a contract that runs through 2029 with an option for the 2029/2030 season. [6]
December 10, 2025 Jason Shokalook FW Chicago Fire FC II Promoted from the second team after winning the 2025 MLS Next Pro golden boot, signing a contract for 2026 with options for 2027 and 2028 [7]
December 26, 2025 Robin Lod MF Minnesota United Joined the Fire as a free agent with a contract through the summer of 2008 [8]
December 31, 2025 Josh Cohen GK Atlanta United Joined the Fire as a free agent through the summer of 2027 with an option for the 2027-2028 season [9]
January 13, 2026 Puso Dithejane FW TS Galaxy F.C. Joined from Galaxy as a U-22 initiative player through the 2029-2030 season with an option for the 2030-2031 season [10]


Out

Date Player Position Destination Club Notes Ref
November 26, 2025 Omar Gonzalez DF Chicago Fire FC II Joined the Fire's second team as an assistant player-coach [11]
November 26, 2025 Tom Barlow FW FC Cincinnati Option declined [2]
November 26, 2025 Bryan Dowd GK FC Cincinnati 2 Option declined [2]
November 26, 2025 Chase Gasper DF Retired Out of contract, and subsequently retired [2]
November 26, 2025 Rominigue Kouamé MF Cádiz CF End of loan [12][2]
December 12, 2025 Brian Gutiérrez MF Chivas Transferred to Chivas for a multi-million-dollar fee with a future sell-on percentage [13]
December 13, 2025 Georgios Koutsias FW FC Lugano Formally transferred to Lugano after being on loan to them for the previous year [14]
December 30, 2025 Justin Reynolds DF Sporting Kansas City Transferred to SKC for up to $100k in GAM, SKC's natural third round draft pick in the 2028 SuperDraft, and a potential future sell-on fee if Reynolds is sold to a non-MLS side [15]
January 14, 2026 Kellyn Acosta MF Pogoń Szczecin Acosta and the Fire mutually agreed to part ways [16]

Loaned Out

Date Player Position Destination Club Notes Ref
February 13, 2026 Sam Williams M Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC Loaned for the season [17]
February 13, 2026 Omari Glasgow M Monterey Bay FC Loaned for the season [18]

Unsigned draft pick

Player Position Previous club Notes Ref
R1, P18 Jack Sandmeyer DF/MF UNC [19]

Technical staff

Position Staff
Head Coach and Director of Football Gregg Berhalter
Assistant Coach Filipe Çelikkaya
Assistant Coach Tom Heinemann
Assistant Coach Hector Jiménez
Goalkeeping Coach Zach Thornton
Assistant Goalkeeping Coach Joe Bendik
Set Piece Coach Ryan Needs
Sporting Director Gregg Broughton
Head of Player Recruitment Michael Stephens
Director of Performance Darcy Norman
Head of Strategy Eddie Rock
General Manager Zayne Thomajan
Director of Methodology
Talent Manager
Vincent Cavin

Last updated: January 8, 2025
Source: Chicago Fire Technical Staff

Non-competitive matches

Preseason

For the third consecutive season, the Fire participated in the Coachella Valley Invitational.[20] Prior to this they travelled to West Palm Beach in Florida for a week of training.

January 20 Chicago Fire FC 4–1 Nashville SC West Palm Beach, Florida
Poreba
Salétros
Zinckernagel
(o.g.) Applewhite
Brunet
January 24 Chicago Fire FC 1–0 Sporting Kansas City West Palm Beach, Florida
Bamba
February 8 CVI Chicago Fire 3–2 LA Galaxy Indio, California
Report
Stadium: Empire Polo Club
Referee: Ricardo Fierro
February 11 CVI Chicago Fire 2–2 Austin FC Indio, California
Report
Stadium: Empire Polo Club
Referee: Muhammad Kaleia
February 14 CVI Chicago Fire 3–4 Portland Timbers Indio, California
Report
Stadium: Empire Polo Club
Referee: Alexis Da Silva

Competitions

Major League Soccer

Eastern Conference table

MLS Eastern Conference table (2026)
Pos Team Pld W L T GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 New York City FC 4 3 0 1 11 3 +8 10 Qualification for round one and the CONCACAF Champions Cup round one
2 Nashville SC 4 3 0 1 8 2 +6 10 Qualification for round one
3 Inter Miami CF 4 2 1 1 6 6 0 7
4 New York Red Bulls 4 2 1 1 4 5 −1 7
5 D.C. United 4 2 2 0 4 4 0 6
6 Charlotte FC 4 1 1 2 4 5 −1 5
7 Chicago Fire FC 4 1 2 1 5 4 +1 4
8 Toronto FC 4 1 2 1 4 7 −3 4 Qualification for the wild-card round
9 New England Revolution 3 1 2 0 7 6 +1 3
10 Atlanta United FC 4 1 3 0 5 8 −3 3
11 FC Cincinnati 4 1 3 0 3 8 −5 3
12 CF Montréal 4 1 3 0 4 10 −6 3
13 Orlando City SC 4 1 3 0 5 12 −7 3
14 Columbus Crew 4 0 2 2 4 6 −2 2
15 Philadelphia Union 4 0 4 0 2 7 −5 0
Updated to match(es) played on March 15, 2026. Source: MLS
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) total wins; 3) total goal differential; 4) total goals scored; 5) fewer disciplinary points; 6) away goal differential; 7) away goals scored; 8) home goals differential; 9) home goals scored; 10) coin toss (2 clubs tied) or drawing of lots (≥3 clubs tied)

Overall table

Overall MLS standings table
Pos Team Pld W L T GF GA GD Pts
14 FC Dallas 4 1 1 2 6 6 0 5
15 Charlotte FC 4 1 1 2 4 5 −1 5
16 Chicago Fire FC 4 1 2 1 5 4 +1 4
17 LA Galaxy 4 1 2 1 6 7 −1 4
18 Austin FC 4 1 2 1 5 7 −2 4
Updated to match(es) played on March 15, 2026. Source: MLS
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) total wins; 3) total goal differential; 4) total goals scored; 5) fewer disciplinary points; 6) away goal differential; 7) away goals scored; 8) home goals differential; 9) home goals scored; 10) coin toss (2 clubs tied) or drawing of lots (≥3 clubs tied)

Results summary

Overall Home Away
Pld Pts W L T GF GA GD W L T GF GA GD W L T GF GA GD
4 4 1 2 1 5 4  +1 1 1 0 4 2  +2 0 1 1 1 2  −1

Last updated: March 14, 2026
Source: MLSsoccer.com standings
Pld = Matches played; Pts = Points; W = Matches won; T = Matches tied; L = Matches lost; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; GD = Goal difference

Match results

February 21 1 Houston Dynamo FC 2–1 Chicago Fire FC Houston, Texas
7:30 PM  13' Holmes
67', 78' Guilherme
 85' Sviatchenko
Report  26' Waterman
31' Cuypers
 84' Mueller
Stadium: Shell Energy Stadium
Attendance: 20,068
Referee: Filip Dujic
February 28 2 Chicago Fire FC 3–0 CF Montréal Chicago, Illinois
1:30 PM 27' Bamba
 44' Zinckernagel
 56' Dean
90+4' (pen.) Cuypers
90+10' Lod
Report  30' Vera
 53' Jaime
 90+2' Gillier
Stadium: Soldier Field
Attendance: 20,872
Referee: Elijio Arreguin
March 7 3 Columbus Crew 0–0 Chicago Fire FC Columbus, Ohio
6:30 PM  14' Arfsten
 87' Zawadzki
Report  61' Waterman
 77' Zinckernagel
 83' Salétros
 90' Bamba
Stadium: ScottsMiracle-Gro Field
Attendance: 20,121
Referee: Tori Penso
March 14 4 Chicago Fire FC 1–2 D.C. United Chicago, Illinois
7:30 PM  24' Zinckernagel
 54' D'Avilla
 57' Elliott
81' (pen.) Cuypers
Report  34' Hopkins
84' Peltola
90+5' (pen.) Baribo
Stadium: Soldier Field
Attendance: 15,845
Referee: Sergii Demianchuk
March 21 5 Philadelphia Union v Chicago Fire FC Chester, Pennsylvania
3:30 PM Report Stadium: Subaru Park
April 4 6 Chicago Fire FC v Nashville SC Chicago, Illinois
7:30 PM Report Stadium: Soldier Field
April 11 7 Chicago Fire FC v Atlanta United FC Chicago, Illinois
7:30 PM Report Stadium: Soldier Field
April 18 8 FC Cincinnati v Chicago Fire FC Cincinnati, Ohio
6:30 PM Report Stadium: TQL Stadium
April 25 9 Chicago Fire FC v Sporting Kansas City Chicago, Illinois
7:30 PM Report Stadium: Soldier Field
May 2 10 Chicago Fire FC v FC Cincinnati Chicago, Illinois
7:30 PM Report Stadium: Soldier Field
May 9 11 Chicago Fire FC v New York Red Bulls Chicago, Illinois
1:30 PM Report Stadium: Soldier Field
May 13 12 D.C. United v Chicago Fire FC Washington, D.C.
6:30 PM Report Stadium: Audi Field
May 16 13 CF Montréal v Chicago Fire FC Montreal, Quebec
6:30 PM Report Stadium: Saputo Stadium
May 23 14 Chicago Fire FC v Toronto FC Chicago, Illinois
7:30 PM Report Stadium: Soldier Field
July 16 15 Chicago Fire FC v Vancouver Whitecaps FC Chicago, Illinois
7:30 PM Report Stadium: Soldier Field
July 22 16 Inter Miami CF v Chicago Fire FC Miami, Florida
6:30 PM Report Stadium: Nu Stadium
July 25 17 New York City FC v Chicago Fire FC New York, New York
6:30 PM Report Stadium: Yankee Stadium
August 1 18 Chicago Fire FC v Charlotte FC Chicago, Illinois
7:30 PM Report Stadium: Soldier Field
August 16 19 Chicago Fire FC v Portland Timbers Chicago, Illinois
5:30 PM Report Stadium: Soldier Field
August 19 20 Orlando City SC v Chicago Fire FC Orlando, Florida
6:30 PM Report Stadium: Inter&Co Stadium
August 22 21 New York Red Bulls v Chicago Fire FC Harrison, New Jersey
6:30 PM Report Stadium: Sports Illustrated Stadium
August 29 22 Seattle Sounders FC v Chicago Fire FC Seattle, Washington
3:30 PM Report Stadium: Lumen Field
September 5 23 Toronto FC v Chicago Fire FC Toronto, Ontario
6:30 PM Report Stadium: BMO Field
September 9 24 Chicago Fire FC v Inter Miami CF Chicago, Illinois
7:30 PM Report Stadium: Soldier Field
September 13 25 Chicago Fire FC v New England Revolution Chicago, Illinois
5:30 PM Report Stadium: Soldier Field
September 19 26 Nashville SC v Chicago Fire FC Nashville, Tennessee
8:30 PM Report Stadium: Geodis Park
September 26 27 Charlotte FC v Chicago Fire FC Charlotte, North Carolina
6:30 PM Report Stadium: Bank of America Stadium
October 10 28 Chicago Fire FC v New York City FC Chicago, Illinois
1:30 PM Report Stadium: Soldier Field
October 14 29 Chicago Fire FC v Philadelphia Union Chicago, Illinois
7:30 PM Report Stadium: Soldier Field
October 17 30 New England Revolution v Chicago Fire FC Foxborough, Massachusetts
6:30 PM Report Stadium: Gillette Stadium
October 24 31 Atlanta United FC v Chicago Fire FC Atlanta, Georgia
6:30 PM Report Stadium: Mercedes-Benz Stadium
October 28 32 Chicago Fire FC v Orlando City SC Chicago, Illinois
7:30 PM Report Stadium: Soldier Field
October 31 33 Colorado Rapids v Chicago Fire FC Commerce City, Colorado
TBD Report Stadium: Dick's Sporting Goods Park
November 7 34 Chicago Fire FC v Columbus Crew Chicago, Illinois
3:00 PM Report Stadium: Soldier Field


U.S. Open Cup

April 14/15 Round of 32 Chicago Fire FC v TBD TBD
TBD

Leagues Cup

League Phase

August 6 1 Chicago Fire FC v Necaxa Bridgeview, Illinois
TBD p.m. CDT Stadium: SeatGeek Stadium
August 9 2 Chicago Fire FC v Santos Laguna Bridgeview, Illinois
TBD p.m. CDT Stadium: SeatGeek Stadium
August 13 3 Cruz Azul v Chicago Fire FC Bridgeview, Illinois
TBD p.m. CDT Stadium: SeatGeek Stadium

Statistics

Note: italics indicates a player who left during the season while * indicates a Fire II player that joined on a short-term loan or for the Open Cup

Games played

No. Name MLS Playoffs Open Cup Leagues Cup Total
Starts Apps Minutes Bench Starts Apps Minutes Bench Starts Apps Minutes Bench Starts Apps Minutes Bench Starts Apps Minutes Bench
1 Chris Brady 3 3 270 3 3 270
2 Leonardo Barroso 3 3 208 3 3 208
3 Jack Elliott 2 2 180 2 2 180
4 Mbekezeli Mbokazi 3 3 268 3 3 268
5 Sam Rogers 1 1 76 1 1 76
6 Anton Salétros 3 3 270 3 3 270
7 Maren Haile-Selassie 3 3 270 3 3 180
8 Chris Mueller 1 2 69 1 1 2 69 1
9 Hugo Cuypers 2 2 180 2 2 180
10 André Franco
11 Philip Zinckernagel 3 3 278 3 3 278
12 Puso Dithejane 1 2 2 1 2 2
14 Viktor Radojević 1 1
15 Andrew Gutman
16 Joel Waterman 2 3 212 2 3 212
17 Robin Lod 1 3 112 1 3 112
19 Jonathan Bamba 2 2 147 2 2 147
20 Jason Shokalook 1 1 1 1 1 1
22 Mauricio Pineda 2 2 143 1 2 2 143 1
24 Jonathan Dean 1 1 56 1 1 56
25 Jeff Gal
27 Dylan Borso 1 62 1 62
28 Dean Boltz
29 David Poreba 2 2
35 Sergio Oregel 1 2 2 1 2 2
37 Robert Turdean
38 Christopher Cupps 1 14 2 1 14 2
42 Djé D'Avilla 1 3 125 1 3 125
44 Josh Cohen 3 3

Goalkeeping

No. Nat. Name MLS Playoffs Open Cup Leagues Cup Total
Clean Sheets Saves GA Clean Sheets Saves GA Clean Sheets Saves GA Clean Sheets Saves GA Clean Sheets Saves GA
1 USA Chris Brady 2 7 2 2 7 2
25 USA Jeff Gal
44 USA Josh Cohen

Goals

Rk. Player MLS Playoffs Open Cup Leagues Cup Total
1 Hugo Cuypers 2 2
2 Jonathan Bamba 1 1
Robin Lod 1 1

Assists

Rk. Player MLS Playoffs Open Cup Leagues Cup Total

Disciplinary record

Rk. Player MLS Playoffs Open Cup Leagues Cup Total Matches Suspended
1 Jonathan Dean 1 1 March 7th vs Columbus
2 Joel Waterman 2 2
Philip Zinckernagel 2 2
4 Jonathan Bamba 1 1
Chris Mueller 1 1
Anton Salétros 1 1

Awards

Man of the Match awards

Game # Player Reference
1 None Awarded
2 Leonardo Barroso [21]
3 Dylan Borso [22]
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34

MLS Team of the Matchday

Matchday Player Position Reference
3 Chris Brady Goalkeeper [23]


Notes

References

  1. ^ "MLS Club Roster Profiles".
  2. ^ a b c d e f g "Chicago Fire FC Announces 2025 Roster Decisions". November 26, 2025.
  3. ^ "Chicago Fire FC Loans Defender/Winger Omari Glasgow to Loudoun United Football Club". August 7, 2025.
  4. ^ "Chicago Fire FC Acquires Midfielder Anton Salétros". November 7, 2025.
  5. ^ "Chicago Fire FC Acquires Midfielder André Franco on a Permanent Transfer from FC Porto". November 7, 2025.
  6. ^ "Chicago Fire FC Acquires Defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi from South African Side Orlando Pirates". December 2, 2025.
  7. ^ "Chicago Fire FC Signs Forward Jason Shokalook". December 10, 2025.
  8. ^ "Chicago Fire FC Acquires Finland International Robin Lod as a Free Agent". December 26, 2025.
  9. ^ "Chicago Fire FC Acquires Goalkeeper Josh Cohen". December 31, 2025.
  10. ^ "Chicago Fire FC Acquires South African Winger Puso Dithejane". January 13, 2026.
  11. ^ "Chicago Fire FC II Names Omar González as Assistant Coach". November 26, 2025.
  12. ^ "Chicago Fire FC Acquires Midfielder Rominigue Kouamé on Loan from Spanish Club Cádiz CF". January 24, 2025.
  13. ^ "Chicago Fire FC Transfers Homegrown Midfielder Brian Gutiérrez to Historic Mexican Side Club Deportivo Guadalajara". December 12, 2025.
  14. ^ "Chicago Fire FC Agrees to Transfer Forward Georgios Koutsias to FC Lugano". December 13, 2025.
  15. ^ "Chicago Fire FC Trades Homegrown Defender Justin Reynolds to Sporting Kansas City". December 30, 2025.
  16. ^ "Chicago Fire FC Mutually Agrees to Part Ways with Kellyn Acosta". January 14, 2026.
  17. ^ "Chicago Fire FC Loans Midfielder Sam Williams to Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC". February 13, 2026.
  18. ^ "Chicago Fire FC Loans Winger Omari Glasgow to Monterey Bay FC". February 13, 2026.
  19. ^ "Chicago Fire FC Selects Defender Jack Sandmeyer in 2026 MLS SuperDraft". December 18, 2025.
  20. ^ "Chicago Fire FC to Participate in 2026 Coachella Valley Invitational". October 15, 2025.
  21. ^ "Leo Barroso appreciation post 🗣️ #cf97". March 1, 2026.
  22. ^ "A rare but earned game ball for Dylan 🙏 #cf97". March 9, 2026.
  23. ^ "Team of the Matchday: NYCFC make a statement, Vancouver stay rolling". March 9, 2026.