Match Information
Chicago Fire FCÂ (8-6-2, 26 points)Â vs. Charlotte FCÂ (7-6-4, 25 points)
Saturday, August 1, 2026
7:30 p.m. CT
Soldier Field – Chicago
How to Watch:Â Apple TV
English: Nate Bukaty & Devon Kerr
Spanish: Alejandro Figueredo & Tony Cherchi
How to Listen:Â WLS 890 AMÂ //Â TUDN Chicago 106.7-HD2
English: Rudy Hodgson & Joe Chatz
Spanish: Omar Ramos & Teresa Limon
Match Preview
Chicago Fire FC makes its long-awaited return to Soldier Field to take on Charlotte FC on Saturday, August 1.Â
After a postponed homecoming match at the lakefront, the Fire opened the second half of the season with two consecutive road matches against the 2025 Eastern Conference finalists: Inter Miami CF and New York City FC.
Following a 3-2 loss in South Florida on July 22, Chicago traveled to the Bronx for a road match against New York City on Saturday, July 25. The hosts scored first before Anton Salétros sent a free kick into the box that deflected into the path of Joel Waterman, who leveled the score with his left foot. But New York City reclaimed the lead in the 29th minute, adding a third to secure the final scoreline in the 40th minute before its defense finished off the match.
Charlotte opened the second half with a 2-2 draw against Atlanta United FC at Bank of America Stadium, before playing across the Hudson River in Harrison against Red Bull New York II. Despite being outshot 23-5 by New York, two goals scored before the quarter hour mark were all Charlotte FC needed in a 2-0 clean sheet on the road.
All-Time MLS Regular Season Record vs. CLT:Â (3-5-0)
Last Game vs. CLT: June 28, 2025 (3-2 W) – Soldier Field – Chicago (Match Recap)
Last Game at CLT: May 17, 2025 (4-1 W) – Bank of America Stadium – Charlotte, N.C. (Match Recap)
Hyundai Keys to the Match:
- Sweet Home Chicago: Let’s try this again: more than two months after their last home match, the Fire are back at Soldier Field. The Men in Red will be anxious to play in front of a home crowd that is sure to be rocking from first kick.
- Headliner:Â After making his league debut on the road, Robert Lewandowski is eager to make his first appearance in Chicago. His home debut could also bring another first: a goal in Fire red.
- Set Fire to the Reign:Â Charlotte FC arrives in Chicago unbeaten in its last two matches. But the Crown dropped their last two against the Fire, including a 3-2 loss at Soldier Field in June 2025. Can the Men in Red make it three losses in a row?
Match Notes
- Saturday night’s matchup will be the ninth between Chicago and Charlotte in regular season play and first of 2026. Charlotte leads the all-time series 5-3-0, but the Fire took both matches in 2025 with a combined score of 7-3.
- Philip Zinckernagel was named an MLS All-Star for the second time in as many seasons with Chicago. The winger is the first Fire player to be named to two consecutive MLS All-Star Games since Cuauhtémoc Blanco and Bakary Soumare in the 2008 and 2009 editions. On Wednesday night, he scored the first goal in the game by a Fire player since Blanco in 2008.
- Zinckernagel also leads all current Fire players with three goal contributions in two matches against Charlotte, scoring and assisting in the last match against the Queen City, a 3-2 win at Soldier Field on June 28, 2025. Robin Lod, Jonathan Bamba and Mauricio Pineda each have a goal in the series, with Lod also having two assists in the only match he played against the Crown in 2024.
Starting XI
Chicago Fire FC Director of Football and Head Coach Gregg Berhalterwill name a Starting XI approximately one hour before kickoff at Soldier Field.
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