CHICAGO (May 3, 2026) – Chicago Fire FC returns to the lakefront Saturday night to take on Eastern Conference foe Orlando City SC. Kickoff at Soldier Field is set for 7:30 p.m. CT, and the match will be broadcast across the globe on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, and transmitted locally in English on wlsam.com and in Spanish on Que Buena Fire via the Uforia App.
Chicago Fire FC Director of Football and Head Coach Gregg Berhalter has named the following Starting XI looking for the first home win of the season:
- Three changes have been made to the Starting XI that took the field in Nashville last Saturday.
- Chicago Fire FC Homegrown defender Christopher Cupps will make the first start of his career in Major League Soccer. Cupps made his debut in the 76th minute of the Fire’s last match in Nashville, checking in for Sam Rogers as the second-youngest player to register minutes in Club history. He replaces Rogers in the XI to become the youngest starter in Fire history.
- Lining up to the right of Cupps will be fullback Jonathan Dean, who returns to the Starting XI for the first time since Chicago’s 2-1 victory over Toronto FC on March 15. He joins center back Jack Elliott, who wears the captain’s armband in his 10th start with Chicago, and left back Andrew Gutman in the backline tonight.
- Homegrown midfielder Sergio Oregel, Jr. makes his 10th start of the season in the midfield, returning to the Starting XI after remaining on the bench in last week’s match against Nashville.
- Joining Oregel in the center of the pitch are fellow Homegrown midfielders Mauricio Pineda and Brian Gutiérrez, who line up together for the fourth time this season.
- Another Chicago Fire Homegrown, Chris Brady, starts in goal for the 11th time in 2025. The Homegrown goalkeeper will look for his second clean sheet of the season at Soldier Field, and his first against Orlando City SC all-time.
- Hugo Cuypers will make his 11th start of the season tonight. The forward is tied with Philadelphia Union forward Tai Baribo for the league lead in goals scored with seven, and will hope to take the lead outright with an eight goal tonight.
- Helping Cuypers will be winger Philip Zinckernagel, who added his fourth assist of the year last week on the Belgian forward’s seventh goal of the season and added his third of the year as well.
- Tied for second place in MLS in the assists category is winger Jonathan Bamba, who also makes the 11th start of his campaign. His five assists are one behind league leaders Pep Biel (Charlotte), Cristian Espinoza (San Jose) and Quinn Sullivan (Philadelphia).
- Unavailable for selection tonight are defenders Leonardo Barroso (Lower Body), Carlos Terán (Lower Body) and Chase Gasper (Lower Body); and midfielders Kellyn Acosta (Upper Body), David Poreba (Lower Body) and Chris Mueller (Not Due to Injury).
- Available off the bench are goalkeeper Jeff Gal; defenders Sam Rogers and Omar González; midfielders Rominigue Kouamé, Maren Haile-Selassie, Omari Glasgow, Sam Williams and Dje D’Avilla; and forward Tom Barlow.
