Chicago Fire FC is back on the lakefront to face off against San Diego FC for the first time in Club history on Saturday night. The inaugural matchup will kick off at 7:30 p.m. CT and will be broadcast across the globe on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV. It will be transmitted locally in English on wlsam.com and in Spanish on Que Buena Fire via the Uforia App.
With a 2025 record of 8-8-4 and a game in hand to its nearest Eastern Conference rivals, Chicago is in the playoff hunt as it stands just two points from last year’s point total. The Fire will face SDFC with a record of 10-6-4 all-time in their first regular season match against expansion sides, including a 6-3-2 record at home. They also have a 2-0-0 record against Western Conference sides this season, including a victory against San Diego’s rival for the top of the West, Vancouver Whitecaps FC.
Chicago Fire FC Director of Football and Head Coach Gregg Berhalter has named the following Starting XI tasked with winning their first match against San Diego:
- Only one change has been made to the Starting XI that played Supporters’ Shield leader FC Cincinnati last weekend on the banks of the Ohio River.
- Homegrown goalkeeper Chris Brady is back in the lineup for the first time since the Fire’s 3-1 road victory at Orlando City SC on May 31. The Naperville native will aim for his second clean sheet and sixth victory of the season in his 79th regular season appearance all-time.
- Defender Leonardo Barroso remains in the Starting XI after his fourth start of the year last Saturday. The Portuguese defender will line up opposite left back Andrew Gutman, who has been an iron man on the field with Chicago with 21 starts this year.
- Fire captain Jack Elliott will line up alongside Sam Rogers from the start for a third straight game. Elliott has played in all but one of the Fire’s 20 matches this season, while Rogers will appear in his 15th match at center back.
- The Homegrown midfield trio of Mauricio Pineda, Sergio Oregel Jr. and Brian Gutiérrez will line up together for the fifth consecutive match and 12th time overall this season.
- MLS All-Star Philip Zinckernagel starts from the right wing in his 19th match of the season. The Danish winger leads the Club with 17 goal contributions this season and will look to become the second Fire player to reach the 10-goal mark this season.
- Chicago’s leading goal-scorer, Hugo Cuypers, starts his 20th match of the season looking for his 12th goal of 2025. time this season. The Belgian forward will lead the front line alongside Zinckernagel and winger Jonathan Bamba, who has appeared in every Fire game this season.
- Defenders Carlos Terán (Lower Body), Justin Reynolds (Head) and Christopher Cupps (Lower Body); and midfielders Chris Mueller (Not Due to Injury) and David Poreba (Lower Body) are unavailable for selection today.
- Available off the bench are goalkeeper Jeff Gal; defenders Jonathan Dean and Omar González; midfielders Rominigue Kouamé, Maren Haile-Selassie, Kellyn Acosta, Omari Glasgow and Dje D’Avilla; and forward Tom Barlow.
