Following their arrival for medicals, the Chicago Fire first team had their first day of training as they prepare for the 2026 MLS season. This year, the Fire will compete in both the U.S. Open Cup as well as the Leagues Cup alongside the final calendar-year MLS regular season ahead of the league’s impending schedule shift – all while the league pauses over the summer as Canada, Mexico and the United States pause for the World Cup happening in North America.

MIR97 Media observed training and got to speak with Fire Head Coach and Director of Football Gregg Berhalter and a number of players. Here’s what we learned.

Fire “Building” on 2025

The Fire made it to the postseason for the first time since 2017 last year, but this season, the expectations around the club are higher as a result. 

The Fire are taking it in stride. “I think it's about building on the foundation of last year; not getting carried away and thinking all of a sudden, we're MLS Cup favorites,” Berhalter told reporters. “ MLS is not very forgiving. You have to be focused on each and every game. And for us, it's acknowledging that we've built something good. The idea last year was to change the mindset of the group, change the expectations, give the fans something to be proud of, and now it's about building on that. We want to compete to win each and every game we're in, and then along the way, keep getting better. And if we do that, we'll be in a good position.”

The message was echoed by Mauricio Pineda, the Fire homegrown who is now the team’s longest-tenured first team player, with 154 MLS appearances for the Men In Red.  “Last year when we came in and everyone's kind of anxious, not really knowing what's going to happen. A few new faces, new coach obviously, so had a little bit of nerves coming into the season last year. But this year, completely different knowing we had a good season last year, improved as the year went on, got to know each other better. So we come back to familiar faces, a familiar system. We know what's expected, and we're going to use these months, weeks to get ready for the season.”

MLS Veterans, Salétros Here; Mbokazi and Dithejane Yet To Arrive

In addition to acquiring midfielder Robin Lod from Minnesota United and goalkeeper Josh Cohen as free agents from inside the league and signing MLS Next Pro Golden boot winner Jason Shokalook to a first team deal, the Fire made three moves from outside the league this offseason: Signing Swedish international Anton Salétros from AIK Stockholm in Sweden’s top flight and bringing on two U22 Initiative signings from South Africa in center back Mbekezeli Mbokazi and, as announced yesterday, winger Puso Dithejane.

Cohen and Lod were both in training, but of those three international players, only Salétros has joined the team as Mbokazi and Dithejane await visa clearance. Notably, the deal to bring over Mbokazi was announced on December 2nd, 42 days ahead of the day’s training. While each visa case is unique, even for players of similar ages coming from the same country, Dithejane’s arrival is likely to occur in a similar timeframe – with the clock starting a month and a half later.

Mueller, Brady in Training; Timetable Set for Franco’s Return

One of the biggest moves the Fire made in the offseason in the long run was making midfielder André Franco’s move from Porto permanent. In limited time in 2025, Franco had a significant impact for the Fire, helping the team to string together a series of wins that pushed the team into the playoffs. All that came to an end when Franco injured his ACL.

If Franco is to have a similar impact on the team, it won’t be until later in the year. Berhalter said “We know his timetable [for return from injury” is after the World Cup break,” which concludes on July 19. “And to think about strengthening the team with someone that we already have is going to be a big boost to the group as we head out of the World Cup.”

While Franco may not make an impact for the Fire until the second half of the season, both Chris Brady, who was injured for the Fire’s must-win second playoff game against Philadelphia last November, and Chris Mueller, who missed the entirety of 2025 with pericarditis, were in full training with the team and no visible restrictions. Brady told reporters that he’s “physically back to 100%, and looking forward to this camp preparing for the opener against Houston.” 

South African U22s “talented” players with potential

Until last December, the Chicago Fire had never signed a South African player in the team’s history. Now the team has two. Part of that is deliberate, according to Berhalter.

Mbokazi is a “player that has high potential,” the Fire head coach said, “And he's already shown that he can deal with some top players and play at the highest stage. And now for us it's about [getting] him prepared, used to the league, adapted to the league, and then get him prepared for the World Cup.”

Asked about the impending arrival of Mbokazi, who looked confident for South Africa playing at the AFCON tournament in December, goalkeeper Chris Brady said – with a smile – “yeah, it looks like I'm not going to have a lot to do this year.”

Dithejane’s arrival was partly motivated by his ability to make a difference on the pitch – and partly because of the presence of his squadmate. “The first thing” that motivated the team to bring on the 21-year-old winger, Berhalter said “is that we want to bring talented players, who can help the squad, into this club. The second thing is we think it's beneficial for them to have each other and to work in pairs. It's going to be a huge transition for both of the players, and it's comforting to know that they'll have someone from their home country to help them adapt.”

Concern over the well-being of players, recognizing the challenges of adapting – not just to the travel, weather and MLS’s level but also to a different country and culture – is all too often overlooked. Overall, the hit rate on U22 Initiative signings throughout the league hasn’t been great, and if a heightened awareness of the player as a person can improve the odds of one or both players having successful careers in MLS or beyond, then that could be a significant differentiator for the Fire.

Acosta “exit strategy” in works; as Fire look to add more

News broke that Kellyn Acosta’s departure from the Fire was imminent during training on Tuesday. 

🇺🇸 Sources: Kellyn Acosta is nearing an exit from Chicago Fire. Final details now. Likely mutual contract termination but TBD.  Acosta is finalizing a deal to sign with Polish club Pogoń Szczecin.  Acosta, 30, heading abroad. Made 300+ MLS regular season apps.

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— Tom Bogert (@tombogert.bsky.social) January 13, 2026 at 11:15 AM

Speaking to media shortly thereafter, Berhalter confirmed the report, saying that the team is “working on an exit strategy” for the World Cup veteran, “And the reason why is because he wasn't expected to get the game time that he needs to continue on in his career. So, we're looking at something that works for both him and the Club.” 

Acosta was one of the most sought-after free agents in the league before joining the Fire, and his arrival was considered a coup for a beleaguered Fire front office that had failed to make the playoffs despite lavish roster spending. Despite Acosta’s arrival, the team’s performance on the pitch didn’t improve in 2024, but Acosta was pivotal in providing a stabilizing veteran presence in a locker room besieged by bad results.

Excitement Around World Cup

For the second time, the men’s World Cup is coming to the United States, with matches – including the opener – being staged in México (now a third-time host) and Canada (for the first time). 

The significance of this moment is not lost on Berhatler, a World Cup veteran for the United States as both coach and player saying “it's an exciting year for soccer in the United States. The World Cup is going to be monumental. We're going to have tons of fans from all around the world coming to the United States, Mexico and Canada and celebrate soccer. And our job in MLS is to put a good product on the field, to give the fans both in Chicago and around the United States something exciting to watch and to continue to develop the game. And I think, with the World Cup bringing attention to soccer, we'll do our thing and we'll play good soccer and hopefully fans will come out and watch us and be entertained.”

For individual Fire players, though, the moment could be more immediate: The team now has two likely World Cup participants in center backs Joel Waterman and Mbekezeli Mbokazi while Chris Brady and Puso Dithejane both have realistic aspirations for being named to their respective squads.

Brady – who finally was called into camps for the U.S. Men’s National Team last year after emerging as a talented starter as a young age in MLS – understood the balance.  Asked about the possibility of making the World Cup roster for the USMNT, he said “none of that's possible if I'm not performing week in, week out. That's at the forefront of my mind is just performing each week and then being as prepared as I can for each game. So, the other stuff comes after that. And, yeah, I mean, like I said, it's in the back of my mind. But,” he added, “it's definitely a goal of mine.”