 | |||
| Nicknames | The Fire The Men in Red | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Founded | October 8, 1997; 28 years ago (1997-10-08) | ||
| Stadium | Soldier Field Chicago, Illinois | ||
| Capacity | 61,500 | ||
| Owner | Joe Mansueto | ||
| Sporting director | Gregg Berhalter | ||
| Head coach | Gregg Berhalter | ||
| League | Major League Soccer | ||
| 2025 | Eastern Conference: 8th Overall: 13th Playoffs: First round | ||
| Website | chicagofirefc.com | ||
 Current season | |||
Chicago Fire Football Club is an American professionalsoccer club based inChicago. The club competes inMajor League Soccer (MLS) as a member of theEastern Conference. The Fire play their home games atSoldier Field, which they share with theChicago Bears of theNational Football League (NFL).
The franchise, named in memory of theGreat Chicago Fire of 1871, was founded as theChicago Fire Soccer Club on October 8, 1997, the Great Fire's 126th anniversary. The team began play in 1998 as one of the league's first expansion teams. The Fire won theMLS Cup as well as theU.S. Open Cup (the"double") in their first season in 1998. They also won U.S. Open Cups in 2000, 2003, and 2006, in addition to the 2003MLS Supporters' Shield. Although finishing near the bottom of the league consistently, Chicago Fire FC is valued at over $500 million.[1]
The club maintains an extensive development system, consisting of the Chicago Fire Development Academy and the Chicago Fire Juniors youth organization. They also operate the Chicago Fire Foundation, the team's community-based charitable division.
Chicago Fire Football Club was founded as Chicago Fire Soccer Club on October 8, 1997.[2] The club is named after theGreat Chicago Fire of 1871; the official founding date of the team was the 126th anniversary of that event.[3] The owner and chairman of the Fire isJoe Mansueto, who purchased the club in 2019. The club president is Ishwara Glassman-Chrein; Georg Heitz was appointed sporting director in December 2019; The Fire were originally based atSoldier Field from 1997 to 2006. From 2006 to 2019, the club played atSeatGeek Stadium, a stadium originally built for the club, at 71st and Harlem Avenue inBridgeview. In 2019, with the change of ownership to Joe Mansueto, the Fire returned to Soldier Field for the 2020 MLS season. The Fire are currently one of the most successful clubs in theU.S. Open Cup, winning championships in 1998, 2000, 2003, and 2006.
Many notable players have worn the Fire shirt, including U.S. internationalsChris Armas,Carlos Bocanegra,Frank Klopas,DaMarcus Beasley,Brian McBride,Tony Sanneh,Cory Gibbs,Ante Razov,Josh Wolff,Eric Wynalda andJon Busch. Some of the club's other notable American professional players includeC.J. Brown,Jesse Marsch,Chris Rolfe, andZach Thornton. The Fire also have a reputation for importing international talent, from established veterans likeBastian Schweinsteiger,Pável Pardo,Piotr Nowak,Cuauhtémoc Blanco,Tomasz Frankowski,Luboš Kubík,Hristo Stoichkov andJorge Campos; in addition to younger players such asPatrick Nyarko,Marco Pappa,Damani Ralph,Bakary Soumaré andNery Castillo.
Chicago was once the home of theChicago Sting who competed in the top-levelNorth American Soccer League (NASL) from 1975 to 1984. They spread their home games atSoldier Field,Wrigley Field, andComiskey Park. The Sting won theSoccer Bowl twice:1981 and1984. They were the only club other than theNew York Cosmos to win multiple titles in the NASL.[4] Some of the club's notable players were Argentine strikerPato Margetic and German forwardsKarl-Heinz Granitza andArno Steffenhagen.
.jpg)
Founded in 1997 atNavy Pier, on the anniversary of theGreat Fire, the Fire immediately tapped into the diverse ethnic makeup of the city. The team brought in Polish players Piotr Nowak,Jerzy Podbrożny, andRoman Kosecki; the MexicanJorge Campos; and the CzechLuboš Kubík. While all showed their talent while playing for Chicago that first year, American players (Zach Thornton,Chris Armas,C.J. Brown) proved most integral to the Fire's continued success. Under the club's first head coach,Bob Bradley—and against all expectation—the team completed the double in its first competitive year, beatingD.C. United in the1998 MLS Cup Final, and defeating theColumbus Crew in Chicago to win the1998 U.S. Open Cup a week later.
The team's momentum continued, winning the2000 U.S. Open Cup over theMiami Fusion and reaching the2000 MLS Cup final, losing to theKansas City Wizards. Internationally experienced players such asHristo Stoitchkov joined the Fire, while young American talents such asDaMarcus Beasley developed. The Fire quickly became cemented as one of the league's preeminent teams.
With Soldier Field undergoing massive renovations, the Fire moved to the western Chicago suburb ofNaperville in 2002. That same year, Bob Bradley abruptly departed the team to lead theMetroStars, from his home state ofNew Jersey. The Fire then selected theU.S. men's national team's top assistant,Dave Sarachan, to assume the vacant post.
Chicago qualified forthe league final while also capturing theSupporters' Shield and2003 U.S. Open Cup along the way. The team returned to Chicago and the renovated Soldier Field midway through the 2003 season.
After that season, longtime captain Piotr Nowak retired to take a position in the front office. He departed a year later to become manager ofD.C. United. In this period new talent emerged, including Jamaican strikerDamani Ralph. Still, stagnating performances and the building strength of theEastern Conference made Chicago's league position ever more tenuous. In 2004, the team missed the league playoffs for the first time in their history.
The 2005 season began with the unexpected dismissal of popular club presidentPeter Wilt by then-ownersAEG, a move decried by fans, many players, and club staff.[5] This came as a shock, given his brokering of a $100m deal to build the Fire a stadium in the collar suburb ofBridgeview. He was immediately replaced byMetroStars executiveJohn Guppy.
Competitively, the season was most notable for the blockbuster visit ofMilan from Italy'sSerie A, and the surprising 4–0 away defeat ofD.C. United in the Eastern Conference Semi-finals.
2006 arrived, and the Fire moved from Soldier Field into its new stadium in Bridgeview, a southwest suburb of Chicago:Toyota Park, located at the corner of 71st Street and Harlem Avenue. In its first season, it played host to an unspectacular league campaign; but victory in the2006 U.S. Open Cup marked a continuation of the club's successes and promise for the future.
The anxiety to win another league title continued to grow, however.Sarachan entered 2007 (his fifth season in charge) under intense pressure from fans and the administration to produce a league championship. Tension mounted further on April 3, 2007, when the Fire signedMexico andAmérica starCuauhtémoc Blanco to aDesignated Player contract. After a perfect three matches to open the year, they won only one of their next eight, and Sarachan was dismissed. Following a brief search,Millonarios managerJuan Carlos Osorio was named the club's third head coach.
.jpg)
More change came soon afterward. On September 6, 2007,Andell Holdings, a Los Angeles-based private investment firm controlled by chairmanAndrew Hauptman, acquiredAEG's interest in the Chicago Fire Soccer Club. Reports estimated the purchase price to be upwards of $35 million.[6] The team has not won a major trophy since Hauptman bought the team.
On the field, behind Blanco andWilman Conde, Osorio's central defender at Millionarios, the Fire went on an extended unbeaten run to close the season, easily qualifying for the playoffs but were defeated atNew England in the Eastern Conference Final. On December 10, 2007, the Fire announced Osorio's resignation. He was named manager of theNew York Red Bulls eight days later. Hauptman filed tampering charges with the league in protest, and the Fire were compensated by the Red Bulls with cash and draft picks.[7]
Changes came quickly in Osorio's wake. On January 17, 2008, former Fire starFrank Klopas was named Technical Director in charge of player personnel, and longtime Fire assistantDenis Hamlett was appointed manager. While the Fire struggled at home in2008 the team found unusual success on the road, gathering 22 out of a possible 45 away points. Momentum grew with the long-anticipated signing of Chicago nativeBrian McBride on a free transfer in July 2008. After disposing of the Red Bulls 5–2 in the season's final game, they decisively conquered New England in the first round of the playoffs with a 3–0 victory at home. This was Chicago's first playoff advancement over the Revolution in four consecutive seasons. But triumph only lasted for a week, as they again missed the league final with their 2–1 Eastern Conference Final loss to eventual championColumbus.
The2009 season saw few alterations to the previous year's roster. The story of the season was much the same, as continued poor home form offset excellent performances away from Toyota Park. This led to a second place Eastern Conference finish behind Columbus. Despite this,Real Salt Lake managed to upset the Crew in the quarterfinals, meaning Chicago would host the semi-final for the first time in six years. Chicago's nearly flawless home playoff history meant little in the end, as they lost to Salt Lake, 5–3, on penalties after 120 scoreless minutes. Shortly thereafter, manager Denis Hamlett was dismissed.[8]
Leading up to2010, Chicago hiredCarlos de los Cobos as head coach, previously manager ofEl Salvador.[9]Cuauhtémoc Blanco,Chris Rolfe andGonzalo Segares all departed. More changes came in the summer transfer window with the trade ofJustin Mapp toPhiladelphia, the acquisition of Mexican international strikerNery Castillo, and the trade for former Swedish international midfielderFreddie Ljungberg. DefenderGonzalo Segares returned to the Fire, leavingApollon Limassol after only six months away. Despite these reinforcements, the Fire failed to qualify for the playoffs for only the second time in club history. Former U.S. internationalBrian McBride and club originalC.J. Brown retired at season's end, followed closely by the departures ofWilman Conde, Ljungberg, and Castillo.
2011 began much in the way of 2010, with foundering performances both home and away. After nine winless matches,Carlos de los Cobos was let go on May 30, 2011.[10] Technical DirectorFrank Klopas was named interim head coach. Behind summer reinforcementsPável Pardo andSebastián Grazzini, as well as forwardDominic Oduro's 12 goals after being acquired in a trade fromHouston and Dan Gargan's defensive addition, the Fire qualified for theU.S. Open Cup Final (lost atSeattle) and narrowly missed making the playoffs after gaining 24 points in their last 12 league matches. After the season's conclusion, Klopas was given the permanent manager job on November 3, 2011.[11]
Although expectations were modest for2012, Klopas' first full season as coach, the year saw a change in fortune for the Fire. The spring and summer months saw several new acquisitions for the club, starting with the reacquiring ofChris Rolfe fromAalborg BK.[12] Rolfe, who scored eight goals and 12 assists in the 21 games he played in 2012, would later be named the Fire's MVP.[13] Other signings included Brazilian midfieldersAlex Monteiro de Lima from the Swiss sideFC Wohlen,Alvaro Fernández fromSeattle Sounders FC, forwardSherjill MacDonald fromBeerschot AC of Belgium and veteran defenderArne Friedrich fromVfL Wolfsburg. Although they would fall out of the U.S. Open tournament early that season, the Fire eventually compiled a 17–11–6 record, their best since 2000, and ranked as high as second in the Eastern Conference before ending the year in fourth place.[14] On October 31, 2012, in their first playoff appearance since 2009, the Fire lost their first-roundMLS Cup playoff match-up at home against theHouston Dynamo, 2–1.[15]
In the 2012–2013 offseason, the franchise made some moves to improve on 2012's success. The team acquiredJoel Lindpere andJeff Larentowicz and also tradedDominic Oduro forDilly Duka and the rights toRobbie Rogers.[16] The beginning of the season saw the team struggling to score goals, resulting in a record of 2–5–1 through April. After two successive losses to the Union in May, and with veteranArne Friedrich still on injured reserve, the Fire acquired their former centerbackBakary Soumaré from Philadelphia.[17] Also in May, Robbie Rogers expressed an interest to play in Southern California, at which point a deal was brokered for Rogers' rights in exchange for Chicago nativeMike Magee from theLos Angeles Galaxy.[18] On June 23, 2013, Friedrich, who had not played a 2012–13 game due to recurring injuries, announced his retirement.[19] After starting the season 2–7–3, the additions of Soumare and Magee led to seven wins in the squad's last 10 games. The Fire were busy in the transfer window as well, adding veteran defensive midfielderArévalo Ríos and forwardJuan Luis Anangonó.[20] The Chicago Fire also advanced to host the semifinal of the2013 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, but fell 2–0 to eventual championsD.C. United. Alleged fan actions in the stadium that night led to a famous editorial piece, "What it means to be a part of the Fire family",[21] being penned by the club's Director of Communications, which was seen as an odd attack on the fan base and widely panned by local and national media. After a 12–6–6 finish to the season, the Fire narrowly missed the playoffs for the third time in the last four years—losing out to the Montreal Impact on goal difference. On October 30, 2013, the club announced that the president of soccer operations Javier Leon and head coachFrank Klopas had stepped down,[22] but the Fire front office had a replacement one day later.On October 31, 2013, Chicago Fire namedFrank Yallop as its new head coach and director of soccer.[23] On December 5, 2013, Fire MVP Mike Magee became the first Fire player to win theMLS MVP Award—beating outLos Angeles Galaxy'sRobbie Keane andMontreal Impact'sMarco Di Vaio for the honor.[24][25][26]
Meanwhile, Yallop was busy recruiting a new coaching staff which included "Ring of Fire" member and Chicago Fire veteranC. J. Brown and former U.S. International strikerClint Mathis as the team's assistant coaches, adding Columbus Crew'sBrian Bliss as Technical Director. Former Fire forwardBrian McBride was added as an assistant coach in May 2014 for a short-term assignment.[27][28][29][30]The shake-up extended to the roster, as Yallop moved team veterans and starters and brought in youth prospects—reforming the team while freeing up cap space. Major exits in early 2014 includedChris Rolfe,[31]Austin Berry,[32]Jalil Anibaba,Daniel Paladini, andPaolo Tornaghi. Filling that void was a handful of youth prospects includingHarrison Shipp (homegrown player),Benji Joya (via MLS "weighted lottery"), and Grant Ward on loan fromTottenham Hotspur. Despite rarely looking like a team that could advance to theMLS Cup Playoffs, the team once again advanced to the semifinals of the2014 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, but were routed 6–0 by eventual championsSeattle Sounders FC on August 13. The result was the worst competitive defeat in club history and saw Frank Yallop issue an apology to Chicago Fire supporters on the club's official website.[33] As the Cup run had, the season ended in disappointment, with the Fire ending the season with a 6–18–10 record, with 18 draws, also setting a record for most draws in an MLS season in the process.
The club began 2015 with renewed hope, bringing three new Designated Player signings inDavid Accam,Shaun Maloney andKennedy Igboananike to bolster an anemic attack. The club also signed productsMichael Stephens andEric Gehrig as well as Trinindad & Tobago internationalJoevin Jones. With so many new pieces needing to adjust, 2015 marked the first time in club history the side began the season with an 0–3–0 record, but they showed signs of recovery by winning their next three matches. Unfortunately, April was the last time the club would be anywhere near equal on wins and losses, but the side did still advance to anotherLamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup semifinal. Playing in front of a sparse crowd at thePhiladelphia Union'sPPL Park, the Fire fell 1–0 at the same hurdle for the third straight season. Less than two weeks later, Maloney, who was the club's center piece offseason signing, was transferred back to England withHull City citing personal reasons.[34]
Despite no hope for a Cup final, widespread fan protests[35][36] and dim likelihood of a playoff berth, the club didn't part ways with Frank Yallop until September 20, 2015, one day after another listless 1–0 home defeat toOrlando City SC.[37] Along with Yallop's departure, the club announced it had named long-time MLS executive Nelson Rodríguez as the club's new general manager, with his first job being to commence a search for a new head coach. Technical director Brian Bliss was given the interim head coaching job, with former player and current club vice presidentLogan Pause assisting for the remaining five matches. The club has finished the 2015 season with an overall record of 8 wins, 20 losses and 6 ties. For the first time in the club's history Fire finished the season with zero road wins (0–12–5). Twenty losses in a season became the highest in the club's history.[38]
_(cropped).jpg)
On November 18, 2015, Rodriguez made his first moves as GM, firing most of Yallop's remaining technical staff, including goalkeeping coach Aron Hyde, fitness coach Adrian Lamb and Director of Scouting Trevor James.[39] Rodriguez also parted ways with the club's long-time Director of First Team Operations Ron Stern, Equipment Manager Charles Raycroft and Assistant Equipment Manager Allan Araujo. On November 24, 2015, the club announced thatVeljko Paunovic, former coach of the Serbian U-20 side that won the2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup, had been named the new head coach of the Chicago Fire.[40] On January 5, 2016, technical directorBrian Bliss also departed the Fire to join Sporting Kansas City as Director of Player Personnel, completing the total overhaul of the technical staff.[41]
On March 21, 2017Manchester United allowedBastian Schweinsteiger to join Chicago Fire, subject to a medical and a visa being secured.[42][43][44][45][46] The move from Manchester United was completed on March 29, 2017.[47]
On July 11, 2018, the club announced that Hauptman had sold a 49 percent stake of his ownership toJoe Mansueto, the founder ofMorningstar, Inc.[48] On September 13, 2019, Hauptman sold his majority share to Mansueto, who became the sole owner.[49]
As the 2019 MLS campaign concluded, the Chicago Fire organization began the ambitious process of reinventing the franchise during the course of a three-month offseason. The changes included securing a downtown Chicago venue, adding new front office positions, shifting organizational roles, making major roster changes, and rolling out a new brand identity.[50]
Two days after the end of the season, October 8, the Fire officially announced they would return toSoldier Field to play the 2020 MLS season,[51] that same dayBastian Schweinsteiger announced his retirement.[52] Two days later, the Fire announced the signing of midfielderÁlvaro Medrán,[53] eight days later Designated Player and former Golden Boot winnerNemanja Nikolić announced he would be leaving the team.[54]
The first full month of the off-season saw the Fire continue their overhaul. On November 4, the team traded captainDax McCarty to expansion sideNashville SC.[55] Ten days later Homegrown Player Grant Lillard was dealt to MLS's other expansion teamInter Miami CF. That same day, November 14, Chicago Fire President and general manager Nelson Rodríguez fired head coachVeljko Paunović and his staff.[56] News that the Chicago Fire would not be renewing the contract of their last-remaining DP,Nicolás Gaitán, as well as wingerAleksandar Katai was overshadowed by an even larger organizational unveiling one week later.[57]
On November 21, the long-anticipated rebrand of the Chicago Fire franchise was announced.[58] Developed with the help of marketing agency Doubleday & Cartwright, the team revealed changes to its franchise colors, red and white to red, blue, and gold, its name from Chicago Fire Soccer Club to Chicago Fire FC and, most contentiously, its logo.[59]
While the Fire organization made their second player acquisition of the offseason in early December, homegrown player Nicholas Slonina,[60] a relatively quiet few weeks had some followers of the team concerned about their organizational progress.[61] However the Fire were busy again in late December with Nelson Rodríguez relinquishing his on-field decision making responsibilities to new Sporting Director Georg Heitz,[62] who swiftly named formerUS Soccer Youth National CoachRaphaël Wicky as head coach andSebastian Pelzer as Technical Director.[63][64] Heitz has previously worked with Wicky at Swiss clubFC Basel and "worked closely" with Pelzer at his management consultancy business Heusler Werthmüller Heitz ("HWH").[65]
The Fire opened the 2020 campaign with the signings of Argentinian duoIgnacio Aliseda fromDefensa andGaston Giménez from Vélez Sarsfield,[66] looking to bolster their squad after losing DPNicolás Gaitán[67] The Fire also announced the signing ofRobert Berić[68] from French outfitSaint-Étienne, who netted in his debut defeat against theSeattle Sounders FC (2–1).[69]
The club's official primary colors are red, flag blue, deep blue, and white.[70][71] Secondary colors such as navy blue, sky blue, gold, and black have also been used throughout the history of the Fire. The original logo of the Chicago Fire, used from 1997 to 2019, was derived from theCross of Saint Florian, a common symbol for fire departments in the United States.[72] A stylized "C" sat in the center, representing the city, similar to the logos of theBears andCubs. The six points in a ring around the center alluded to the stars in theFlag of Chicago, one of which commemorates the Great Chicago Fire of 1871.[73] This style was chosen by the original general manager, Peter Wilt, to establish a timeless image evocative of both classic American sports (as in the logos of theNHLOriginal Six) and the traditions of European soccer.[73]
Nike, the Fire's original equipment supplier, intended for the team to be named the Chicago Rhythm. The Rhythm identity featured a turquoise, black and green color scheme, and a logo adorned with acobra. Team officials ignored Nike's work, and privately developed the Fire identity with the help of Adrenalin, Inc., a sports branding agency fromDenver.[74][75] The names "Chicago Blues" and "Chicago Wind" were also considered.[74]
The original Fire jerseys were chosen because of their resemblance to a Chicago fireman's coat, featuring broad horizontal stripes across the torso and sleeves. In the first year, the home jersey was red and white with a silver "FIRE" on the stripe; while the away shirts were white and black in the same style. The jersey maintained the same format of an all-red shirt with a white horizontal chest stripe through changes in equipment sponsor (fromNike, toPuma, and currentlyAdidas), until 2012 when the white stripe was exchanged for a blue stripe. Conversely, the Fire's secondary shirts have changed much over the years from white with black, to white with navy, to white with red, to all-white style and the all-blue currently used. Third shirts have often been yellow (originally to honor the Chicago Sting, later for the expired partnership withMorelia). In 2005, and again from 2014 through 2016, the club wore third shirts with designs based on theFlag of Chicago.[76]
The club and their fans make frequent use of the symbols of Chicago, as a show of civic pride. Most prominent are the six-pointed Chicago stars, but the light blue color associated with the city, the municipal device, and the city skyline appear regularly on materials produced by the club and its fans. TheFlag of Chicago is also favored by fans and often seen at the stadium.
On November 21, 2019, the club unveiled its first major rebranding ahead of their move back to Soldier Field in Chicago. The club's name was changed to Chicago Fire Football Club (Chicago Fire FC) and the original logo was replaced with an ovular crest marked with mirrored sets of three triangles called the "Fire Crown" to reference the revitalization of Chicago following the Great Fire.[77][72] The crest used dark blue, red, and gold as its main colors.[72] Secondary design colors are to be ivory and "flag blue", a light blue color derived from the Chicago flag.[78] Before its unveiling, the rebranding was leaked onto social media and garnered an "overwhelmingly negative response" from fans.[79] Comparisons were made between the "Fire Crown" and the existing logo of theVancouver Whitecaps FC, which uses a similar set of mirrored triangles, and some fans worried that the "Fire Crown" was reminiscent of the logo of theLatin Kings street gang. The team responded to the decidedly negative reaction by saying "[new] brands take time and repetition to build meaning. They will be judged in years, not days", insisting that there are no plans to revive the old logo.[80] The club ultimately unveiled a new crest in the middle of the 2021 season, with a full embrace of it beginning in 2022. This new logo was designed byMatthew Wolff.[81]
          1998-1999 |      2000-2002 |     2003-2004 |      2006-2007 |     2008–2009 |      2010-2011 |      2012–2013 |      2014–2015 |      2020 |    2021–2022 |    2022–2023 |     2024-2025 |
| Seasons | Kit manufacturer | Shirt sponsor |
|---|---|---|
| 1998–2002 | Nike | — |
| 2003–2005 | Puma | |
| 2006–2007 | Adidas | |
| 2008–2010 | Best Buy | |
| 2011 | — | |
| 2012–2015 | Quaker Oats | |
| 2016–2018[82] | Valspar | |
| 2019–2022 | Motorola | |
| 2023 | — | |
| 2024–present | Carvana |
.jpg)
Chicago played its home games atSeatGeek Stadium, asoccer-specific stadium located at 71st Street and Harlem Avenue in the Chicago suburb ofBridgeview, Illinois, about 12 miles southwest from downtown Chicago from 2006 until the end of the 2019 season. The Village of Bridgeview owns and operates SeatGeek Stadium, which opened as Toyota Park on June 11, 2006, and originally cost approximately $100 million. After the end of the 2018 season, It was renamed from Toyota Park to SeatGeek Stadium,[83][84] with an estimated naming rights fee between $2.5 million to $4 million per year.[85]
For its first years in the league the Fire played at Soldier Field, the 61,500-capacity home of theChicago Bears of theNFL and one of the main venues of the1994 FIFA World Cup. While that stadium was undergoing a $632 million renovation, the Fire played atCardinal Stadium inNaperville, Illinois, on the outskirts of the Chicago metropolitan area; the stadium was temporarily expanded to 15,000 seats to accommodate the team.[86] Attempts to play at other venues, includingComiskey Park and theArlington Park racecourse, were rejected by their respective owners.[87][88] They returned to Soldier Field toward the end of 2003, remaining there through the end of 2005 while their soccer-specific stadium was under construction.
In April 2019, multiple sources reported the club in negotiations with Bridgeview to buy out the remainder of its lease at SeatGeek Stadium and return toSoldier Field.[89][90] In July 2019, Chicago Fire reached a deal to leave SeatGeek Stadium for a payment of $65.5 million and move back to Soldier Field starting in 2020.[91] The return to Soldier Field was finalized with an agreement with theChicago Park District in September 2019.[92] SeatGeek Stadium continues to be utilized by the team for certain matches due to the Bears' own CPD lease conditions, which disallow any event in the five days before or after a Bears game to maintain turf quality and allow proper game preparation, including a 2025 playoff series againstPhiladelphia Union.[93]
On June 3, 2025, Chicago Fire FC ownerJoe Mansueto announced plans for a new, privately funded, soccer-specificstadium and entertainment district located along the Chicago River just south of Roosevelt Road.[94] The stadium will be the anchor tenant ofThe 78 – a mixed-use development that will eventually include restaurants, retail, office space, and residential buildings, along with green space and an extension of theChicago Riverwalk.
There is a noteworthy fan culture for the Fire, beginning with the original Fire SG Barn Burners, existing from the date the club was founded, and building on an enthusiasm throughout Chicago sports. At matches,supporters andultras groups occupy a standing area directly behind the north goal, in theHarlem End ofToyota Park.[95] This area is referred to asSection 8, originating from the numbering of the corresponding section atSoldier Field and theAmerican military designation of mentally unfit soldiers.[96]Section 8 Chicago, the Independent Supporters' Association (ISA) for the Fire, oversees the activities of these numerous groups.[97] While incorporating a worldwide variety of styles with a Chicago bent, groups as part ofSection 8 generally fall under the ultras designation. Additionally, an associated spinoff group called "Sector Latino" which originally congregated in the corner-kick Section 101[98][non-primary source needed] at the stadium's southwest end until season long discussions between the ISA and the Chicago Fire Front Office eventually saw the group moved to Section 137, directly behind the south goal. There are also several other affiliated ultras and supporters groups, including The Arsonists, Banter Buddies, Blitzer Mob, Husaria, Fire Ultras 98, Partisans, Red Scare, Second City North, The Western Front, Ultras Red-Side, Mike Ditka Street Crew (MDSC), and Whiskey Brothers Aught-Five.[99] TheSection 8 Chicago ISA is a registered 501(c)7 non-profit organization run by volunteers through an elected board of directors.[100]
Match atmosphere is known for organized displays of stadium-wide support, particularly for matches of prime competitive importance. Call-and-response cheering amongst the crowd is commonplace.[101] Fans at SeatGeek Stadium for Fire matches periodically choreographtifo presentations both to show their pride and inspire the players on the field.[102] SeatGeek Stadium remains one of the few American environments to conduct such fan-driven presentations on a large scale.
Their official mascot is Sparky, an anthropomorphicDalmatian dog. Sparky is usually shown wearing the club's jersey but also arrives wearing firefighter attire.[103]
While the Fire have heated rivalries with a number of different MLS teams, Fire supporters of different ages will likely give different responses as to who the club's main rival is. The earliest Fire supporters would listBrimstone Cup rivalFC Dallas as the Fire's nemesis, orLos Angeles Galaxy following heated playoff and cup matches with Dallas and L.A. in the league's early years.
After the Fire moved to the Eastern Conference, meetings with Dallas and LA became less frequent. Rivalries withD.C. United andNew England Revolution were stoked following several thrilling playoff meetings. The Fire and Revolution are MLS' most frequent playoff matchup, meeting in the MLS Cup Playoffs 8 different times in 10 seasons from 2000 to 2009, splitting those encounters 4–4, with the Fire winning in 2000, 2003, 2008, and 2009. New England ended the Fire's playoff runs in 2002, 2005, 2006, and 2007. Newer rivals includeColumbus Crew, who up until the introduction ofFC Cincinnati were the closest MLS team geographically to the Fire, andAtlanta United FC following quarrels between the two sets of fans.
In 2023St. Louis City SC entered the league. As St. Louis and Chicago are considered historic rival cities, a rivalry has naturally emerged between the two teams.[104][105]
Beginning with the 2020 season,WGN Sports was added as a regional television rightsholder under a multi-year deal, with all regional matches airing onWGN-TV. The first season under the contract was concurrent with the final year of the existing ESPN+ regional rights. WGN had recently lost its legacy professional sports rights toNBC Sports Chicago andMarquee Sports Network.[106][107][108] In April 2021, the club announced that their television broadcast team would consist of play-by-play commentator Tyler Terens, color analyst,Tony Meola. Play-by-play commentatorArlo White – whose Fire broadcast debut was postponed in 2020 because of the pandemic – was also expected to call several games.[109] With every MLS game available onApple TV via their rights deal in 2023, Chicago games will be broadcast almost exclusively on this service, with exceptions for certain national linear television broadcast partners.
Spanish-language radio stationWRTO has aired Chicago Fire matches since 2017, replacingWEBG-HD2.[110]
On April 26, 2023, the Fire announced a deal withCumulus Media to carry Fire matches on English language radio, with matches to be broadcast on eitherWLS 890 am, or on the station's website at wlsam.com. Max Thoma will provide play-by-play with former Fire playerDasan Robinson providing color commentary.[111]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
|
|
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
|
The "Ring of Fire" was established in 2003 by Chicago Fire Soccer Club and the Chicago Fire Alumni Association as permanent tribute to honor those who have made the club proud and successful over its history.[113] Aside from the initial memberPiotr Nowak, only "Ring of Fire" members can select new inductees, and no more than one can be selected any year. Names and numbers (if applicable) are prominently displayed insideSeatGeek Stadium.
There were no inductees in 2008, 2010, or 2011. In 2008, the members voted to honor two recently deceased fans (supporter leaders Dan Parry and Brandon Kitchens) but were overruled by the club chairmanAndrew Hauptman.[114] Parry and Kitchens were later made members of the Wall of Honor, a special recognition for Fire fans. In addition to Parry and Kitchens, the late Fire fans Euan McLean and Al Hack have been inducted into the Wall of Honor as of 2011.[115]C.J. Brown was expected to be honored in 2011, but a new rule was established that inductees must have been away from the club for at least a calendar year.[116] Brown, at the time an assistant head coach at Real Salt Lake, was officially inducted at the halftime ceremony during the home game vs. Real Salt Lake in Toyota Park on May 9, 2012.[117][118]
On October 3, 2015,Ante Razov, the club's all-time leading scorer, became the eighth individual to be inducted into the club's Ring of Fire Hall of Fame.[119] The ceremony took place on that day during the halftime of the regular season home match against New England Revolution.[120] On February 10, 2024, former goalkeeper and current goalkeeping coach Zach Thornton was inducted into the Ring of Fire. The ceremony will be held on April 27 at Soldier Field during the match against Atlanta United.[121]
10Piotr Nowak (inducted 2003)
41Frank Klopas (inducted 2004)
5Luboš Kubík (inducted 2005) Former general manager and club presidentPeter Wilt (inducted 2006) Former head coachBob Bradley (inducted 2007) 14Chris Armas (inducted 2009) 2C.J. Brown (inducted 2012) 9Ante Razov (inducted 2015) 18Zach Thornton (inducted 2024) | This sectionneeds additional citations forverification. Please helpimprove this article byadding citations to reliable sources in this section. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.(August 2015) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
| Name | Nationality | Tenure |
|---|---|---|
| Bob Bradley | United States | October 30, 1997 – October 5, 2002 |
| Dave Sarachan | United States | November 4, 2002 – June 20, 2007 |
| Denis Hamlett(interim) |  Costa Rica | June 20, 2007 – June 30, 2007 |
| Juan Carlos Osorio |  Colombia | July 1, 2007 – December 10, 2007 |
| Denis Hamlett | Costa Rica | January 11, 2008 – November 24, 2009 |
| Carlos de los Cobos |  Mexico | January 1, 2010 – May 30, 2011 |
| Frank Klopas(interim) | United States | May 30, 2011 – November 3, 2011 |
| Frank Klopas | United States | November 3, 2011 – October 30, 2013 |
| Frank Yallop |  Canada | October 31, 2013 – September 20, 2015 |
| Brian Bliss(interim) | United States | September 20, 2015 – November 24, 2015 |
| Veljko Paunović |  Serbia | November 24, 2015 – November 13, 2019 |
| Raphaël Wicky |  Switzerland | December 27, 2019 – September 30, 2021 |
| Frank Klopas(interim) | United States | September 30, 2021 – November 7, 2021 |
| Ezra Hendrickson |  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | November 24, 2021 – May 8, 2023 |
| Frank Klopas(interim) | United States | May 8, 2023 – December 5, 2023 |
| Frank Klopas | United States | December 5, 2023 – October 19, 2024 |
| Gregg Berhalter | United States | October 20, 2024 – Present |
| Name | Tenure |
|---|---|
| Robert Sanderman | 1997–2000 |
| Peter Wilt | 2001–2005 |
| John Guppy | 2005–2008 |
| Javier León (interim) | 2008 |
| Dave Greeley | 2008–2010 |
| Javier León (interim) | 2010 |
| Julian Posada | 2010–2012 |
| Nelson Rodríguez | 2018–2021 |
| Ishwara Glassman-Chrein | 2021–2022[122] |
| Dave Baldwin | 2023–present |
| Name | Tenure |
|---|---|
| Peter Wilt | 1997–2005 |
| Nelson Rodríguez | 2015–2019 |
| Georg Heitz | 2019–2024 |
| Gregg Berhalter | 2024–present |
| Name | Tenure |
|---|---|
| John Urban | 2018–2024[123] |
| Zayne Thomajan | 2024-Present |
| National[133] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Competitions | Titles | Seasons | |
| MLS Cup | 1 | 1998 | |
| Supporters' Shield | 1 | 2003 | |
| U.S. Open Cup | 4 | 1998,2000,2003,2006 | |
| # | Name | Career | MLS | Playoffs | Open Cup | CCL | SL/LC | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CJ Brown | 1998–2010 | 295 | 35 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 350 |
| 2 | Logan Pause | 2003–2014 | 286 | 14 | 9 | 4 | 4 | 317 |
| 3 | Gonzalo Segares | 2005–2009; 2010–2014 | 231 | 13 | 9 | 0 | 3 | 256 |
| 4 | Chris Armas | 1998–2007 | 214 | 29 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 254 |
| 5 | Zach Thornton | 1998–2006 | 215 | 31 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 253 |
| 6 | Jesse Marsch | 1998–2005 | 200 | 31 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 241 |
| 7 | Patrick Nyarko | 2008–2015 | 196 | 5 | 13 | 0 | 5 | 219 |
| 8 | Chris Rolfe | 2005–2009; 2012–2014 | 178 | 15 | 7 | 0 | 5 | 205 |
| # | Name | Career | MLS | Playoffs | Open Cup | CCL | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ante Razov | 1998–2000 2001–2004 | 76 | 10 | 6 | 2 | 94 |
| 2 |  Nemanja Nikolić | 2017–2019 | 50 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 55 |
| 3 | Chris Rolfe | 2005–2009 2012–2014 | 48 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 55 |
| 4 | Josh Wolff | 1998–2002 | 32 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 39 |
| 5 |  David Accam | 2015–2017 | 33 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 38 |
| 6 |  Dema Kovalenko | 1999–2002 | 22 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 35 |
| 7 | Piotr Nowak | 1998–2002 | 26 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 29 |
| 8 |  Damani Ralph | 2003–2004 | 22 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 28 |
| 9 | Mike Magee | 2013–2015 | 22 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 27 |
| 10 |  Hristo Stoichkov | 2000–2002 | 17 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 24 |
This is a partial list of the last five seasons completed by the Fire. For the full season-by-season history, seeList of Chicago Fire FC seasons.
| Season | League | Position | Playoffs | USOC | Continental / other | Average attendance | Top goalscorer(s) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Div | League | Pld | W | L | D | GF | GA | GD | Pts | PPG | Conf. | Overall | Name(s) | Goals | ||||||
| 2019 | 1 | MLS | 34 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 55 | 47 | +8 | 42 | 1.24 | 8th | 17th | DNQ | R4 | Leagues Cup | QF | 12,324 | Nemanja Nikolić | 13 |
| 2020 | MLS | 23 | 5 | 10 | 8 | 33 | 39 | −6 | 23 | 1.00 | 11th | 22nd | NH | MLS is Back Tournament | GS | 0 |  Robert Berić | 12 | ||
| 2021 | MLS | 34 | 9 | 18 | 7 | 36 | 54 | −18 | 34 | 1.00 | 12th | 22nd | NH | DNQ | 10,703 | Robert Berić | 8 | |||
| 2022 | MLS | 34 | 10 | 15 | 9 | 39 | 48 | −9 | 39 | 1.15 | 12th | 24th | R3 | 15,848 | Jhon Durán | 8 | ||||
| 2023 | MLS | 34 | 10 | 14 | 10 | 39 | 51 | −12 | 40 | 1.18 | 13th | 24th | QF | Leagues Cup | R32 | 18,170 | Maren Haile-Selassie | 6 | ||
^ 1.Avg. attendance include statistics from league matches only.
^ 2.Top goalscorer(s) includes all goals scored in League,MLS Cup Playoffs,U.S. Open Cup,MLS is Back Tournament,CONCACAF Champions League,FIFA Club World Cup, and other competitive continental matches.
Golden Boot is the team leader in goals (regular season games only). * Indicates a season where two players tied for the Golden Boot award.
