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Tim Hotze

Chicago, IL
Jonathan Bamba and Philip Zinckernagel play the ball against the Columbus Crew on February 22, 2025 at Lower.com Field in Col

5 Things We Learned: Chicago Fire vs Columbus Crew

The Fire’s first game of the Gregg Berhalter era is in the books. Although the result is painfully familiar, and the team is still looking for their first opening-day win since 2009, the team nonetheless showed real progress – although the 4-2 loss also shows just that the Fire are

May 18, 2024; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Fire FC midfielder Brian Gutierrez (17) kicks the ball against Columbus Crew mi

Start of a New Era: Fire vs Columbus Match 1 Preview

On Saturday, 126 days after their last competitive match, the Chicago Fire will take to the pitch in Columbus against the Crew. In that time, the Gregg Berhalter era in has started in Chicago, with a revamped front office, a new coaching staff, and a significantly reworked roster that has

Bamba, Barroso, Rogers, Gutiérrez and Zinckernagel celebrate in the game against the San Jose Earthquakes at Coachella

Panel Predictions: How Will the Fire Do In 2025?

With the Fire’s first season under Director of Football and Head Coach Gregg Berhalter set to kick off, the team at MIR97 Media has predictions for the team in 2025. We cover everything from individual accolades to team performance in key competitions. Team Golden Boot Winner Alex Calabrese:  Hugo

Close in shot of Gregg Berhalter with microphones in front of a Chicago Fire

Berhalter Ball: The Fire’s Tactics In 2025

The Chicago Fire team that is set to take to the pitch on Saturday in Columbus will look radically different than the one that last played a competitive match in 2024. There has been significant roster turnover, and about half of the players on the roster are new. The team

Kellyn Acosta playing in a preseason match against Sporting Kansas City in Florida

Quotes: Kellyn Acosta on new teammates, his role and more

Before sitting down with sponsors at the Chicago Fire foundation’s annual preseason luncheon, Kellyn Acosta took time to talk about his new teammates, his leadership role with the team, the importance of the club being connected to the community, and more. Be sure to also check out our exclusive

Omar González plays against the LA Galaxy on February 15, 2025 Coachella Valley preseason

Omar González: “I want them to be Fire fans”

In MLS, roster moves late in preseason can ultimately have a huge impact on a team’s fortunes. Sometimes, the move seemingly comes out of nowhere. Sometimes, the signing was rumored. Others, the move was right in front of you. That’s the case with Omar González, the newest veteran

Mar 2, 2024; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Fire FC midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri (10) celebrates after scoring a goal in the f

How 2025 Roster Rule Changes Impact the Fire

Last week, MLS released the public version of the 2025 Roster Rules and Regulations. While not a comprehensive (or legally binding) version of the rules that MLS teams need to follow, they work as a guide for the public’s (and media’s) understanding of the myriad rules and exceptions

Sep 18, 2024; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Chicago Fire defender Arnaud Souquet (2) exists the field after warm-ups before the

Roster update after Fire buy out Souquet

The Fire announced that they have bought out defender Arnaud Souquet’s contract. The move was expected after the Parisian was kept out of the team’s preseason training – the second year in a row in which that was the case. The team has tried for over a year to

Gregg Berhalter at Chicago Fire FC Endeavor Health Performance Center day 1 training

Berhalter on progress, signings, and Neymar

As the Fire wrapped up their first week of training in the Endeavor Health Performance Center, the team’s new, state-of-the-art training facility and prepared to fly to California for the last phase of their preseason, Chicago Fire Head Coach and Director of Football Gregg Berhalter gave updates on the

Members of the 1998 Chicago Fire team celebrate the team's open cup victory

Fire to play in 2025 U.S. Open Cup

The Chicago Fire’s first team is set to participate in the 2025 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup after a one-year hiatus, but the team will not participate in the Leagues Cup held between MLS and Liga MX teams under a revamped format for the competition. The moves will

Jonathan Bamba then of Celta de Vigo, plays the ball during a soccer game

Fire roster taking shape as Bamba signs

Having announced the signing of Côte d’Ivoire international Jonathan Bamba to a Designated Player deal, the team’s plans for how it will play in 2025 are becoming clearer. Although the Bamba signing is all but certainly not the last move for Director of Football Gregg Berhalter in his

Neymar Return to Santos Not Done Deal

Neymar Return to Santos Not Done Deal

Neymar Jr.’s return to Santos is not yet a done deal, sources tell MIR97 Media, and since confirmed in statements by the Brazilian club's CEO, despite initial reports claiming that Brazil’s all-time leading scorer will return to his boyhood club on a six-month loan. The 32-year-old’

Why Neymar signing would make sense for the Fire

Why Neymar signing would make sense for the Fire

In a rapidly moving story yesterday, rumors out of Saudi Arabia – which eventually became reports from the United States and France –  have linked the Chicago Fire with Brazilian superstar Neymar Jr., currently of Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia, with L’Equipe reporting that Fire and MLS executives have met with Neymar’