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Chicago Fire FC Announces Acquisition of Chicagoland Indoor Soccer League 

CISLFIRE

CHICAGO (Aug. 26, 2025) – Chicago Fire FC and Chicagoland Indoor Soccer League (CISL), the premier indoor soccer league in Illinois, announced today that the MLS club has acquired the league from its founder and operator, John Niestrom.

Launched in 2007, Chicagoland Indoor Soccer League was established to provide youth soccer players with a high-quality, competitive indoor league during Chicago’s winter months. Since its start with 40 teams in 2008, CISL has grown to 800+ teams and 10,000-12,000 players annually across multiple venues, making it one of the largest youth soccer leagues in the Chicago area.

The addition of CISL to the Fire’s ecosystem will enhance the Club’s visibility within the Illinois youth soccer community and allow the club to establish a strong brand presence among the CISL clubs and young players who participate. The partnership will allow the Chicago Fire to strengthen relationships with club directors, coaches, players, and families, creating a pipeline of future professional players and lifelong supporters of the Fire. These key relationships will ensure alignment and support at every level and build a foundation for collaboration and shared growth.

“Chicago Fire FC is thrilled to be partnering with Chicagoland Indoor Soccer League to lead the evolution of youth soccer within our state. As a club, one of our long-term goals is to be the professional club of choice and be involved wherever the game is played,” said Chicago Fire FC SVP of Youth Soccer Paul Cadwell. “The partnership with CISL will allow us to do just that and will serve as an exciting opportunity for those involved as the league extends its reach in the future.”

The Fire will work with CISL clubs on new initiatives that support the continued education and development of players, coaches, and referees, while fostering a stronger connection to the Club’s First Team and Academy through deliberate and tailored access. The Club has a strong record of accomplishment in developing local talent, including several former CISL players, Andrew Gutman, Mauricio Pineda, Chris Brady, and Sergio Oregel, who went on to sign as Fire homegrown players and contribute at the professional level. This partnership aims to continue and expand the pathway for future generations of Chicagoland players.

“Partnering with Chicago Fire FC was a clear and strategic decision. Their goal to make soccer a top priority in Chicago perfectly aligns with our vision. The Fire’s passionate team is dedicated exclusively to the Chicago market and will leverage the CISL platform to grow the Fire brand within the local soccer community, identify talented players for the Chicago Fire Academy, and develop players for the professional team.” said League founder John Niestrom. “The CISL team remains committed to operating a professional platform and is dedicated to advancing the beautiful game.”

Building on CISL's reputation and success within the community, the Fire will leverage the resources and expertise of the professional club to professionalize operations, strengthen systems and infrastructure, and increase visibility of the youth clubs, officials, and players across the platform.

To learn more information on Chicagoland Indoor Soccer League and to explore league and team registrations, please visit chicagolandindoorsoccer.com.  

For additional information on Chicago Fire FC, including information on the 2025 MLS Season, please visit: chicagofirefc.com. For regular Club updates, follow Chicago Fire FC on Twitter (@chicagofireusing hashtags #CF97 and #VamosFire), Instagram (@chicagofire), TikTok (@chicagofire), and Facebook at  facebook.com/chicagofire/.

About Chicagoland Indoor Soccer

The Chicagoland Indoor Soccer League is the premier indoor soccer experience for U8-U19 boys and girls. CISL offers competitive play for all levels, including 5v5, 7v7, 9v9 and 11v11 formats across seven top-quality, centrally located indoor facilities. Founded in 2007 with a vision to promote the love of soccer, our organization has grown into a thriving community where players of all ages can develop their skills, build lasting friendships, and compete at the highest levels. CISL hosts 800+ teams and 10,000-12,000 youth players annually. 

About Chicago Fire FC

The Chicago Fire Football Club (Chicago Fire FC) is an American professional soccer club that competes in Major League Soccer (MLS), the top U.S. domestic league. Founded on October 8, 1997, on the 126th anniversary of the Great Chicago Fire, the Club began play in 1998 as one of the League’s first expansion franchises. The Fire have won six major domestic titles, including the 1998 MLS Cup; the 1998, 2000, 2003, and 2006 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cups; as well as the 2003 MLS Supporters’ Shield. Chicago Fire FC’s affiliate team, Chicago Fire II, plays in MLS NEXT Pro, a professional league that completes the pro player pathway from MLS NEXT, the youth academy programs, through to MLS. The Chicago Fire Academy currently features five teams ranging from U-13 to U-18. The Club’s charitable arm, the Chicago Fire Foundation, was recognized as ESPN’s 2019 Sports Humanitarian Team of the Year and has made significant contributions to enhance the lives of disadvantaged youth throughout Chicagoland, providing over $10 million back to the community. The Fire train at the Endeavor Health Performance Center, a $100M state-of-the art-facility and play their home matches at historic Soldier Field. For more information, visit chicagofirefc.com.