From our football correspondent
Uneasy
Squad15 Nov 2027
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Chicago Fire, and both men came out saying it was fine.
Market15 Nov 2027
Another week, another link, another denial nobody quite believes. Chicago Fire know the market decides these things, not the back pages — but the back pages are louder.
Squad15 Nov 2027
Robin Lod called up by his country
A window away with the national side, and a shirt at Chicago Fire that briefly doubles as an advertisement. A call-up flatters the player and the club that built him in the same breath.
Back issues
From our football correspondent
Uneasy
Match6 Oct 2027
Three points for Chicago Fire, 2-1 the final word against DC United in a contest settled by the finer margins.
Squad11 Oct 2027
“The easiest signature of my career.” Joaquín Camejo and Chicago Fire agree another 4 years, and the manager can plan around him rather than about him.
Squad11 Oct 2027
Andrew Gutman asks for a word with the manager
“I would rather say it to his face than read about it.” The meeting was requested by the player, which tells you most of what you need to know.
Squad11 Oct 2027
The first one is the one every signing is asked about until it arrives. It has arrived, and he can stop being asked.
Squad11 Oct 2027
International call for Robin Lod
Robin Lod joins up with his country. Chicago Fire lose him for the window and would like him back in one piece.
From our football correspondent
Uneasy
Squad20 Sep 2027
“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.
Squad20 Sep 2027
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Chicago Fire, and both men came out saying it was fine.
Market20 Sep 2027
Another week, another link, another denial nobody quite believes. Chicago Fire know the market decides these things, not the back pages — but the back pages are louder.
From our football correspondent
Uneasy
Squad6 Sep 2027
Nathan Ordaz 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.
Squad6 Sep 2027
One booking too many, and Mauricio Pineda sits out. Chicago Fire lose him for the sort of avoidable reason that makes a manager's week longer.
Market6 Sep 2027
Another week, another link, another denial nobody quite believes. Chicago Fire know the market decides these things, not the back pages — but the back pages are louder.
From our football correspondent
Uneasy
Market22 Mar 2027
Jonathan Dean hands in a written request
“I have nothing bad to say about this place. I just need to be somewhere else.” It is in writing now, which changes what Chicago Fire can pretend not to have heard.
Squad22 Mar 2027
The manager makes an example of Daniel Ríos
“If you cannot run for the shirt, somebody else will wear it.” No name was used and none was needed; every player in that room knew who it was for.
The terraces22 Mar 2027
Every touch is being weighed now, in print and everywhere else. Some players grow into that and some are quietly ruined by it, and nobody knows which in advance.
Squad22 Mar 2027
Robin Lod called up by his country
A window away with the national side, and a shirt at Chicago Fire that briefly doubles as an advertisement. A call-up flatters the player and the club that built him in the same breath.
Squad22 Mar 2027
A new face in his position, and Jonathan Bamba suddenly has to win back what he thought he owned. Chicago Fire have promised nothing — clubs rarely do at this stage.
Market22 Mar 2027
The list is a quiet document with a loud meaning. Chris Mueller may talk to anybody who asks, and everybody at the club understands what that means.
From our football correspondent
Steady
Market4 Jan 2027
Joel Waterman hands in a written request
“I have nothing bad to say about this place. I just need to be somewhere else.” It is in writing now, which changes what Chicago Fire can pretend not to have heard.
Squad4 Jan 2027
Anton Salétros asks for a word with the manager
“I would rather say it to his face than read about it.” The meeting was requested by the player, which tells you most of what you need to know.
Market4 Jan 2027
Another week, another link, another denial nobody quite believes. Chicago Fire know the market decides these things, not the back pages — but the back pages are louder.
Squad4 Jan 2027
It is a strip of cloth and it decides nothing on a Saturday. It still tells the dressing room exactly whose opinion the manager values, which is the whole point of it.
Market4 Jan 2027
Contract settled, hands shaken, no fee changing hands. Jack Elliott leaves Chicago Fire the quiet way, and the wage bill breathes a little easier.
Market4 Jan 2027
No fee, no negotiation, no argument: Maren Haile-Selassie moves on to LA Galaxy with his contract settled and the wage bill a little lighter.
From our football correspondent
Steady
Market16 Nov 2026
“I have given everything here and I need a new challenge.” The request is formal, and the relationship will never be quite the same again.
Squad16 Nov 2026
Anton Salétros knocks on the manager's door
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Chicago Fire, and both men came out saying it was fine.
Market16 Nov 2026
The name of Jonathan Bamba keeps appearing in other people's back pages. Chicago Fire say nothing, which says plenty.
From our football correspondent
Steady
Market26 Oct 2026
The clubs have agreed terms, and what remains is formality: a medical, a photograph, a signature. Nobody at Chicago Fire is pretending he will be back in the shirt.
Squad26 Oct 2026
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Chicago Fire, and both men came out saying it was fine.
Market26 Oct 2026
The name of Anton Salétros keeps appearing in other people's back pages. Chicago Fire say nothing, which says plenty.
Market26 Oct 2026
Chicago Fire have made Anton Salétros available for transfer. A career at this club is over in all but paperwork.
Market26 Oct 2026
2 months remain and no agreement is close. Every week without a signature costs Chicago Fire money.
Squad26 Oct 2026
The manager comes out for Alec Kann
Public backing, and the sort that costs a manager something if it turns out to be wrong. Alec Kann has been told in front of everybody that the shirt is his.
From our football correspondent
Steady
Market12 Oct 2026
“I have given everything here and I need a new challenge.” The request is formal, and the relationship will never be quite the same again.
Market12 Oct 2026
The clubs have agreed terms, and what remains is formality: a medical, a photograph, a signature. Nobody at Chicago Fire is pretending he will be back in the shirt.
Squad12 Oct 2026
“The easiest signature of my career.” Víctor Lanosa and Chicago Fire agree another 4 years, and the manager can plan around him rather than about him.
Squad12 Oct 2026
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Chicago Fire, and both men came out saying it was fine.
Market12 Oct 2026
Another week, another link, another denial nobody quite believes. Chicago Fire know the market decides these things, not the back pages — but the back pages are louder.
Squad12 Oct 2026
A window away with the national side, and a shirt at Chicago Fire that briefly doubles as an advertisement. A call-up flatters the player and the club that built him in the same breath.
From our football correspondent
Steady
Match26 Aug 2026
Austin FC ended it 0-1. The season narrows to the league now, and everyone in the ground knew it before the final whistle.
Match29 Aug 2026
3-0, and the margin flattered nobody — it could have carried another goal or two without complaint. Afternoons like this are why people keep coming.
Market31 Aug 2026
“I have given everything here and I need a new challenge.” The request is formal, and the relationship will never be quite the same again.
Squad31 Aug 2026
The match ball belongs to Robin Lod, whose 3 goals turned a difficult afternoon into a procession.
Squad31 Aug 2026
Some afternoons a goalkeeper is the team. 6 saves, several of them the sort nobody expects to see stopped, and a scoreline that flatters everybody in front of him.
Market31 Aug 2026
The name of Chris Brady has come up in conversations Chicago Fire were not part of. Nothing formal, nothing signed — but nothing about it accidental either.
Market31 Aug 2026
The clubs have agreed terms, and what remains is formality: a medical, a photograph, a signature. Nobody at Chicago Fire is pretending he will be back in the shirt.
Squad31 Aug 2026
The manager makes an example of Robin Lod
“If you cannot run for the shirt, somebody else will wear it.” No name was used and none was needed; every player in that room knew who it was for.
The terraces31 Aug 2026
Every touch is being weighed now, in print and everywhere else. Some players grow into that and some are quietly ruined by it, and nobody knows which in advance.
From our football correspondent
Steady
Match22 Aug 2026
A 3-1 win over Toronto FC, a place in the next round, and the quiet arithmetic every supporter does on the walk home: how many more until a final?
Squad24 Aug 2026
A one-man rearguard from Chris Brady
There were 8 saves in it, and at least three that had no business being saves at all. The ten outfield players owe him a drink and they know it.
Market24 Aug 2026
“I have given everything here and I need a new challenge.” The request is formal, and the relationship will never be quite the same again.
Squad24 Aug 2026
André Franco 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.
The terraces24 Aug 2026
The spotlight tightens on Chris Brady
Every touch is being weighed now, in print and everywhere else. Some players grow into that and some are quietly ruined by it, and nobody knows which in advance.
Squad24 Aug 2026
The first one is the one every signing is asked about until it arrives. It has arrived, and he can stop being asked.
Squad24 Aug 2026
The first one is the one every signing is asked about until it arrives. It has arrived, and he can stop being asked.
Market24 Aug 2026
Chicago Fire have made Jack Elliott available for transfer. A career at this club is over in all but paperwork.
Market24 Aug 2026
The name of Jonathan Bamba keeps appearing in other people's back pages. Chicago Fire say nothing, which says plenty.