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
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
36 Justin Reynolds (2004-04-08) April 8, 2004 May 12, 2022 Chicago Fire FC II Homegrown
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
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
23 Kellyn Acosta (1995-07-24) July 24, 1995 February 13, 2024 LAFC TAM
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
47 Sam Williams (2005-03-18) March 18, 2005 March 14, 2025 Chicago Fire FC II Homegrown
26 Omari Glasgow (2003-11-22) November 22, 2003 December 17, 2024 Chicago Fire FC II International
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
Forwards
9 Hugo Cuypers (1997-02-07) February 7, 1997 February 6, 2024 Gent International
Designated Player
28 Dean Boltz (2006-06-07) June 7, 2006 December 20, 2024 University of Wisconsin
Jason Shokalook (2002-09-30) September 30, 2002 December 10, 2025 Chicago Fire FC II


Player movement

See also: List of Major League Soccer transfers 2025

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]


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 [8]
November 26, 2025 Tom Barlow FW Option declined [2]
November 26, 2025 Bryan Dowd GK 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 [9][2]
December 12, 2025 Brian Gutiérrez MF Chivas Transferred to Chivas for a multi-million-dollar fee with a future sell-on percentage [10]
December 13, 2025 Georgios Koutsias FW FC Lugano Formally transferred to Lugano after being on loan to them for the previous year [11]


Unsigned draft pick

Player Position Previous club Notes Ref
R1, P18 Jack Sandmeyer DF/MF UNC [12]

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

Competitions

Major League Soccer

Eastern Conference table

Overall table

Results summary

Match results

Preseason

For the third consecutive season, the Fire would participate in the Coachella Valley Invitational.[13]

CVI v Indio, California
Stadium: Empire Polo Club
Regular season
Main article: 2026 Major League Soccer season
February 21 1 Houston Dynamo FC v Chicago Fire FC Houston, Texas
7:30 PM Report Stadium: Shell Energy Stadium
February 28 2 Chicago Fire FC v CF Montréal Chicago, Illinois
1:30 PM Report Stadium: Soldier Field
March 7 3 Columbus Crew v Chicago Fire FC Columbus, Ohio
6:30 PM Report Stadium: ScottsMiracle-Gro Field
March 14 4 Chicago Fire FC v D.C. United Chicago, Illinois
7:30 PM Report Stadium: Soldier Field
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: Miami Freedom Park
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

Leagues Cup

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 Total
Starts Apps Minutes Bench Starts Apps Minutes Bench Starts Apps Minutes Bench Starts Apps Minutes Bench
1 Chris Brady
2 Leonardo Barroso
3 Jack Elliott
4 Mbekezeli Mbokazi
5 Sam Rogers
6 Anton Salétros
7 Maren Haile-Selassie
8 Chris Mueller
9 Hugo Cuypers
10 André Franco
11 Philip Zinckernagel
14 Viktor Radojević
15 Andrew Gutman
16 Joel Waterman
19 Jonathan Bamba
22 Mauricio Pineda
23 Kellyn Acosta
24 Jonathan Dean
25 Jeff Gal
26 Omari Glasgow
27 Dylan Borso
28 Dean Boltz
29 David Poreba
35 Sergio Oregel
36 Justin Reynolds
37 Robert Turdean
38 Christopher Cupps
42 Djé D'Avilla
47 Sam Williams
Jason Shokalook

Goalkeeping

No. Nat. Name MLS Playoffs Open Cup Total
Clean Sheets Saves GA Clean Sheets Saves GA Clean Sheets Saves GA Clean Sheets Saves GA
1 USA Chris Brady
25 USA Jeff Gal

Goals

Rk. Player MLS Playoffs Open Cup Total

Assists

Rk. Player MLS Playoffs Open Cup Total

Disciplinary record

Rk. Player MLS Playoffs Open Cup Total Matches Suspended


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 II Names Omar González as Assistant Coach". November 26, 2025.
  9. ^ "Chicago Fire FC Acquires Midfielder Rominigue Kouamé on Loan from Spanish Club Cádiz CF". January 24, 2025.
  10. ^ "Chicago Fire FC Transfers Homegrown Midfielder Brian Gutiérrez to Historic Mexican Side Club Deportivo Guadalajara". December 12, 2025.
  11. ^ "Chicago Fire FC Agrees to Transfer Forward Georgios Koutsias to FC Lugano". December 13, 2025.
  12. ^ "Chicago Fire FC Selects Defender Jack Sandmeyer in 2026 MLS SuperDraft". December 18, 2025.
  13. ^ "Chicago Fire FC to Participate in 2026 Coachella Valley Invitational". October 15, 2025.
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