Chicago qualifies for the MLS Cup Playoffs for the second year in a row despite result
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (Oct. 17, 2026) – Chicago Fire FC (14-10-6, 48 points) fell 1-0 to the New England Revolution (16-10-4, 52 points) on Saturday night at Gillette Stadium. Chicago clinched a berth in the 2026 MLS Cup Playoffs following the conclusion of the match.
New England took the lead in the first real chance of the night for the home side. Carles Gil reeled in a pass from fellow midfielder Peyton Miller before dribbling to the right edge of the box. Fire defender Andrew Gutman prevented Gil from moving forward, but the Spaniard patiently dumped off to another midfielder in Matt Polster, who struck a shot off the far post for the opening tally.
Chicago came out of the locker room with the greater share of possession and chances that were frustrated by goalkeeper Matt Turner's six saves for New England. The pressure intensified but the home side did not relent, holding on through stoppage time to pick up three points despite the Fire's 19 shots.
NEXT MATCH: Chicago remains on the road for a second consecutive match, heading south to face Atlanta United on Saturday, Oct. 24. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. CT and the match will be broadcast globally on Apple TV, and transmitted locally on wlsam.com in English and TUDN Chicago 106.7-HD2 and Uforia by TREBEL app in Spanish.
Match Notes:
- Chicago clinched back-to-back postseason berths for the first time since 2009, when the Men in Red made the last of three consecutive Eastern Conference Finals. The Men in Red's appearance in the Audi 2026 MLS Cup Playoffs will be the 15th in Club history.
- The Fire's appearance in the 2026 MLS Cup Playoffs is the second in Gregg Berhalter's two-year tenure as Director of Football and Head Coach. It is also the sixth time in seven seasons as a head coach in Major League Soccer that a Berhalter-led team reaches the postseason.
- The match marked Andreas Hanche-Olsen's first start in Major League Soccer. The Norwegian center back made his Fire debut one week ago in stoppage time of the comeback win against New York City FC before coming in at halftime on Wednesday against the Philadelphia Union.
- Defenders Jack Elliott (Suspended) and Sam Rogers (Lower Body), and midfielders André Franco (Lower Body) and Robin Lod (Lower Body) were not available for selection in Foxborough.
Social: Twitter - @chicagofire, @vamosfire (Hashtags: #cf97 #VamosFire) | Instagram - @chicagofire | Facebook
Box Score:
New England Revolution 1:0 Chicago Fire FC
Goals:
NE - Polster (2) (Gil 11, Miller 7) (WATCH) 26'
Discipline:
CHI - Gutman (Caution) 58’
NE - Kohler (Caution) 79'
Chicago Fire FC: GK Brady, D Barroso (Gómez, 79'), D Hanche-Olsen, D Mbokazi, D Gutman (Allen, 68'), M Zinckernagel, M Salétros (capt.), M D’Avilla (Mekvabishvili, 67'), M Bamba (Dithejane, 67'), F Lewandowski, F Haile-Selassie
Subs not used: GK Cohen, D Dean, M Pineda, M Poreba, M Oregel Jr.
Head Coach: Gregg Berhalter
New England Revolution: GK Turner, D Feingold (Baker, 86'), D Kohler, D Wynder, D Sands (Yueill, 75'), M Miller, M Gil (capt.), M Polster, M Raines, M Langoni (Gazdag, 65'), F Turgeman (Beason, 86')
Subs not used: GK Gunn, M Siqueira, M Fagundez, F Yow, F Harris
Head Coach: Michael Morris (Interim)
Stats Summary: NE / CHI
Shots: 5 / 19
Shots on Goal: 4 / 6
Saves: 6 / 3
Passing Accuracy: 83.5% / 86.9%
Corners: 0 / 10
Fouls: 9 / 18
Offsides: 1 / 1
Possession: 44.0% / 56.0%
Venue: Gillette Stadium
Attendance: 34,506
Referee: Nabil Bensalah
Assistant Referees: Michael Barwegen, Andrew Bigelow
Fourth Official: Lorenzo Hernandez
VAR: Geoff Gamble
AVAR: Claudiu Badea
