Two of the hottest teams in MLS are set to meet in a clash the shores of the lake that everyone will still be calling Ontario for a very long time.
Toronto FC are undefeated in their last five games and have just one loss since the resuming play after the World Cup. That stretch includes impressive wins over Inter Miami and the New England Revolution, two teams that sandwich the Fire near the top of the Eastern Conference standings.
It's a very different place than where Toronto were in when the Fire handed them a 2-1 defeat at Soldier Field in the last game for both sides before the World Cup.
The Fire are undefeated in league play, and after two losses upon resumption of play, their only loss was to Hugo Cuypers and CF Monterrey in Leagues Cup action.
The Fire are also undefeated in their last eight matches against Toronto, a stretch dating back to 2022, when Ezra Hendrickson coached the team.
Toronto FC
Two things were true about the Chicago Fire and Toronto FC in the first half of the 2020s: First, both teams were amongst the highest spenders in MLS. And second, neither were very good: Toronto's last postseason appearance was in 2020, a year after they lost the MLS Cup final.
Last year, the Fire turned that around, making the playoffs for the first time since 2017, the year that Toronto won MLS Cup. This year, Toronto, under Head Coach Robin Fraser, an assistant coach during all three of Toronto's runs to the MLS Cup final, Toronto are trying to do the same thing.
When the Fire last met, it wasn't working: The team had faced injuries to key players, including Chicago Fire homegrown Djordje Mihailovic, one of three players with U.S. Men's National Team experience in the core of TFC's roster along with Josh Sargent and Walker Zimmerman.
The Reds have been playing well, against good competition – but despite that and their undefeated streak, they went from April 4th to August 15th without winning a game in MLS competition – a 12 game stretch.
Including this match against the Fire, Toronto only have five home games left this year, and their offense still hasn't been clicking, despite the availability of Mihailovic and Sargent. Given the hill they still have to climb, making the postseason will still be an uphill battle for the club – but based on recent results, it's a battle they intend on fighting, each and every match for the rest of the year.
Chicago Fire
The Fire were quiet for most of the transfer window then finished with a flurry of activity, ultimately adding four players at the end of the deadline as the roster was significantly overhauled.
Two of the players, defender Noah Allen and attacker Johan Gómez will be available in this one, and it wouldn't be surprising if both saw action.
With Joel Waterman sent off to Portland, Christopher Cupps on loan to Greenock Morton and the Fire II having played Friday night, the Fire have three center backs – including Allen, who has typically played more as a left back. That stretches the Fire's center back depth, with Andreas Hanche-Olsen yet to arrive as he awaits visa clearance.
