Through 85 minutes it felt like the Fire might have another bit of magic in them as they looked to extend their win streak to seven with a heavily rotated squad. It was not to be, and as a result, they weren’t able to avenge the 3-1 loss they suffered in the reverse fixture at Soldier Field back in May.
Now Chicago heads home for a matchup with CF Monterrey in the Leagues Cup Quarterfinals that has every theme you could ask for.
On Tuesday night Hugo Cuypers will return to Chicago(land) to face the Fire for the first time since requesting a transfer and leaving for Rayados in late July. It's a matchup that can't be one Director of Football Gregg Berhalter would've expected (or wanted) sending Hugo south of the border, and it's nearly one that didn't happen at all.
After the Fire’s win over Cruz Azul, Berhalter openly pondered a “thank you” ceremony for Cuypers, saying “it would be nice if we could do something for Hugo, to go honor him in front of the fans.”
The reunion is bittersweet to say the least. Though Cuypers didn't bring hardware home for the Fire (either individually or for the club), his impact on the club has been undeniable.
He was an easy player for fans in Chicago to love: In addition to scoring all the highlight-reel goals, it felt like he was never hungry for the spotlight, always willing to do the dirty work not often seen from designated players in MLS, and – no matter the results ‒ always with the highest work rate on the team. He was also key to the Fire’s locker room cohesion, including having led team yoga and meditation sessions.
All of that, paired with two massive goals against Orlando in the 2025 playoffs and his red hot start to 2026 has cemented Hugo's status as a club legend for a large swath of Fire faithful, despite his own request triggering the move to Monterrey.
Now, Cuypers returns to face the legend of the game wearing the shirt and number he wore merely months ago, looking to end the Fire's unbeaten streak (now at seven matches), and with it, quest for a trophy first berth in CONCACAF Champions Cup since 2007.
It's set to be a night with more on the line than any would've bargained for. The atmosphere of the first phase of Leagues Cup matches were charged: High pressure, high stakes, aggressive play, and a physicality not always seen in what is, ostensibly, an exhibition tournament.
Add in the fact this is a knockout game and the reunion and SeatGeek Stadium begins to look more and more like a powder keg ready to burst, in what will surely be a sellout crowd – though whether it will be a friendlier one to the local team than what the Fire encountered against Cruz Azul is an open question.
