Match Information
Chicago Fire FC (8-4-2, 26 points) at Inter Miami CF (9-2-4, 31 points)
Wednesday, July 22, 2026
6:30 p.m. CT
Nu Stadium – Miami
How to Watch: Apple TV
English: Jake Zivin & Taylor Twellman
Spanish: Sammy Sadovnik, Diego Valeri & Antonella González
How to Listen: WLS 890 AM // TUDN Chicago 106.7-HD2
English: Rudy Hodgson & Joe Chatz
Spanish: Omar Ramos & Teresa Limon
Match Preview
After enduring a homecoming match postponement, Chicago Fire FC will finally return from a lengthy FIFA World Cup break, taking to the road to face Inter Miami CF on Wednesday, July 22 at Nu Stadium.
Chicago closed out the first half of the regular season with a primetime match against Toronto FC on May 23 at Soldier Field. Although Toronto tied the match following Robin Lod’s opening tally, defender Andrew Gutman sent the Fire into the break on a three-game winning streak with a header off a Philip Zinckernagel cross. The fans were treated to a victory ahead of a tournament that featured three Men in Red – goalkeeper Chris Brady (United States) and defenders Mbekezeli Mbokazi (South Africa) and Joel Waterman (Canada).
The Men in Red’s first opponent of the second half will be the defending MLS Cup champions, Inter Miami CF, who are second in the Eastern Conference 15 games into the season. Since a season-opening loss to LAFC at the iconic Rose Bowl, the Herons have only fallen one other time in regular season play. It will be the first time Chicago plays at Miam’s Nu Stadium and the first time they meet in South Florida since a 5-3 victory in September 2025 that clinched a postseason berth for the first time since 2017.
All-Time MLS Regular Season Record vs. MIA: (5-3-2)
Last Game vs. MIA: April 13, 2026 (0-0 D) – Soldier Field – Chicago (Match Recap)
Last Game at MIA: Sept. 20, 2025 (5-3 W) – Chase Stadium – Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. (Match Recap)
Keys to the Match:
- At Last! We’re finally back! Two months and one postponed match later, the Men in Red are back in action – against the defending champions, no less. The itch to compete that was not scratched on Thursday will make way for a massive Eastern Conference showdown on the road.
- Nu House Smell: Miami’s brand-new home, Nu Stadium, will host Chicago for the first time in its three-month existence. The Fire's had plenty of good memories in South Florida – their first match in 1998 was a 2-0 win in Ft. Lauderdale. The last match? A 5-3 win to clinch a postseason berth last September.
- Taking Our Talents to South Beach: A high-scoring Fire squad that tallied five times on its last trip to South Florida just added another piece: Robert Lewandowski, one of the sport’s greatest players of all time. Is a league debut in hand for Robert – and will it come with goals?
Match Notes
- Chicago will play at Nu Stadium for the first time in Club history on Wednesday night. The Fire have a 2-2-1 all-time record in regular season play in South Florida, reaching the record with a 5-3 win in Ft. Lauderdale that gave Chicago a postseason berth for the first time since 2017. Five different goalscorers tallied that night, including current players Dje D’Avilla and Jonathan Dean.
- Six current Fire players have tallied at least once against Miami, led by Chris Mueller’s three goals in 11 matches. Maren Haile-Selassie has also scored twice, while Andrew Gutman, Robin Lod, D’Avilla and Dean have done so once in the series. Luis Suarez leads all current players in the all-time series with four goals for Miami.
- Philip Zinckernagel will look for this fourth straight match with a goal contribution on Wednesday in Miami. The Danish winger has recorded a goal or assist in eight of his last nine matches, holding a total of 42 goal contributions in his second year with Chicago Fire FC. That mark is five short of reaching a tie for top 10 in Club history; three more assists would see him tied with Maren Haile-Selassie for 10th place in total assists in Club history (25).
Starting XI
Chicago Fire FC Director of Football and Head Coach Gregg Berhalter will announce the Starting XI approximately one hour before the opening kick.
For instant updates, follow Chicago Fire FC on X (@chicagofire and @VamosFire using hashtags #cf97), Instagram (@chicagofire), TikTok (@chicagofire), Facebook at facebook.com/chicagofire/, Threads (@chicagofire) and Bluesky (@chicagofire.bsky.social).
