Chicago Fire FC continues pushing for the playoffs with a road trip to face Minnesota United FC on Saturday, Sept. 20 at Allianz Field.
The Fire remain in the final playoff spot in ninth place in the Eastern Conference standings with 42 points, following a loss against fifth-place New York City FC at Soldier Field. Philip Zinckernagel scored his 13th goal of the season in the first half, increasing his total contributions to 26 during the 2025 MLS regular season.
Minnesota will take on the Men in Red following a 3-2 home loss in added extra time against Austin FC in the U.S. Open Cup semifinals on Wednesday, Sept. 17. Prior to the double match week, the Loons are undefeated in their last four games, claiming victories over the Seattle Sounders, Real Salt Lake and San Diego FC and tying against the Portland Timbers.
This will be only the seventh MLS regular season match between the two squads who faced off earlier this year in the 2025 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.
Game Information
CHICAGO FIRE FC (12-11-6, 42 points) vs. Minnesota United FC (15-6-9, 54 points)
Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025
Allianz Field – St. Paul, Minn.
All-Time MLS Regular Season Record vs. MIN: (2-3-1)
Last Game vs. MIN: April 8, 2023 (2-1 W) – Soldier Field – Chicago (Match Recap)
Last Game at MIN: April 23, 2022 (0-3 L) – Allianz Field – St. Paul (Match Recap)
Keys to the Match
- Bring the Fight: Chicago is back at Allianz Field for a second time this season, this time in regular season play. In their last match in St. Paul, the Fire went the distance and then some, falling to the Loons in added extra time in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Quarterfinals. Before that, the Fire won a 3-2 match there in the 2023 Leagues Cup group stage. The Men in Red have found a way to persevere in the Twin Cities, and they’ll look for a similar effort against a Minnesota side that just played 120 minutes on Wednesday in the Open Cup.
- André the Giant: In just three matches in Chicago, André Franco has already ingratiated himself with the Fire faithful. The Portuguese midfielder recorded two assists in his home debut, a 3-2 victory over the New England Revolution on Sept. 6 and has shown plenty of quality in his other appearances. Now, Franco will look for his first goal with the Men in Red – and what better place to do it in than Minnesota in the middle of a playoff race?
- Mr. 200: Chicago Fire FC Director of Football and Head Coach Gregg Berhalter will coach his 200th MLS regular season match on Saturday. The former U.S. Men’s National Team head coach has seen plenty of success in his 199 preceding matches, posting double-digit win totals in all but one season on his way to four playoff appearances with Columbus. His 200th game could see his 80th win in MLS, which could go a long way to making it five postseason appearances for the New Jersey native.
By the Numbers
13 – With his 13th minute goal against New York City FC on Sunday, winger Philip Zinckernagel reached lucky number 13 in both goals and assists. His combined 13 goals and 13 assists in 2025 place him second in goal contributions for a Fire player in a single season. The Danish winger now trails only Nemanja Nikolić’s 28 goal contributions in 2017 as the most in one campaign.
15 – Defender Joel Waterman took the field on Saturday for the first time as a member of the Chicago Fire, making him the 15th player to make his Fire debut in 2025. Of those 15, 12 have also made their first apperances in Major League Soccer. The current roster is one MLS debut away from tying the record set in 2005, when 13 different players earned their first minutes in the league as members of the Men in Red.
199 – Chicago Fire FC Director of Football and Head Coach Gregg Berhalter has coached 199 MLS matches since 2014 when he was head coach of the Columbus Crew. The match against Minnesota United will be Berhalter’s 29th at the helm of the Fire, and his 200th match overall as a head coach in MLS.
How to Watch
Chicago's clash against the Western Conference contenders is scheduled to kick off at 7:30 p.m. CT and will be broadcast globally on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV. The match will be transmitted locally on wlsam.com (English) and Que Buena Fire via the Uforia App (Spanish). A replay will be available at 7:00 p.m. CT on Monday, Sept. 22 on Marquee Sports Network.
