The Chicago Fire Post
Match19 Aug 2026
Chicago Fire through in the cup
A 2‑1 win over Charlotte Football Club, and the draw for the next round can be watched with some interest for once.
Squad24 Aug 2026
Chris Brady keeps Chicago Fire in it on his own
Some afternoons a goalkeeper is the team. 8 saves, several of them the sort nobody expects to see stopped, and a scoreline that flatters everybody in front of him.
Squad24 Aug 2026
Robin Lod in a row with a teammate
It was not about football and everybody who saw it knows that. Two men who have to play together on Saturday said things at Chicago Fire this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.
Player ratings24 Aug 2026
Nobody could get near Puso Dithejane
Successful dribbles: 22. Every time he got the ball somebody had to make a decision, and every time the decision was wrong.
The terraces24 Aug 2026
Chicago Fire supporters have found a favourite in Jason Shokalook
There is a particular warmth a ground reserves for a 23-year-old it feels ownership of. Jason Shokalook has it now, and everything he does for the rest of his time here will be measured against the goodwill he was handed for free.
Squad24 Aug 2026
Words at Chicago Fire training over how hard people work
Somebody said out loud what several people had been thinking. Hugo Cuypers is at the centre of it, and the squad will now find out whether the standard rises or the pair of them simply stop speaking.
Player ratings24 Aug 2026
Jason Shokalook was on a different afternoon to everybody else
8.39. There are performances a supporter describes to somebody who was not there and cannot quite convey; this was one, and the number does not help either.
Player ratings24 Aug 2026
Mbekezeli Mbokazi shuts the door
Defensive actions: 19, and a clean sheet at the end of it. A centre-half's best afternoons look like nothing happening, which is precisely the point.
Squad24 Aug 2026
Tyler Deric gets it from the manager
“Nobody here is above being told.” It was not said with a name attached, but the dressing room can count, and so can everybody who was listening.
In brief
- Player ratings The afternoon belonged to Anton Salétros
- The terraces The spotlight tightens on Chris Brady
- Match Chicago Fire draw a blank against Toronto FC