CHICAGO (May 9, 2025) – Chicago Fire FC wraps up a two-game homestand Saturday afternoon, when it faces Eastern Conference foe Atlanta United FC on Matchday 12.
Chicago will hope to continue its defensive form after a 0-0 draw on Saturday night against one of the best attacking teams in the league in Orlando City SC. Defender Christopher Cupps made Club history, becoming the youngest player to ever start a regular season match for the Fire at 16 years and 342 days of age. Goalkeeper Jeff Gal also made his MLS debut on Saturday, coming into the match in place of a sent off Chris Brady in the 40th minute. Both players helped the Fire earn their second clean sheet of the year. Orlando goalkeeper Pedro Gallese also tallied his fifth consecutive clean sheet, thus making it a 0-0 draw despite a combined 39 shots between both sides.
Atlanta comes north to the Windy City after breaking a lengthy goalless streak in a 1-1 home draw against Nashville SC on Saturday. Club legend Miguel Almiron surpassed Thiago Almada as second on Atlanta’s all-time goals list with his 24th goal, which came thanks to Brooks Lennon’s club-leading 40th assist for the 5-Stripes. They enjoy an 8-4-3 mark all-time against the Fire but have never defeated the Men in Red at Soldier Field.
Game Information
CHICAGO FIRE FC (3-4-4, 13 points) vs. Atlanta United FC (2-5-4, 10 points)
Saturday, May 10, 2025
Soldier Field – Chicago, Illinois
All-Time MLS Regular Season Record vs. ATL: (4-8-3)
Last Game vs. ATL: April 27, 2024 (0-0 D) – Soldier Field – Chicago (Match Recap)
Last Game at ATL: March 31, 2024 (0-3 L) – Mercedes-Benz Stadium – Atlanta (Match Recap)
Keys to the Match
- Find Maren: Midfielder Maren Haile-Selassie may have started the season returning from injury, but he is heating up at the right time. On Wednesday, Haile-Selassie scored, recorded an assist, and helped cause an own goal in a 4-0 win over Detroit City FC in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. Whether from the bench or the XI, the only Fire player on the roster with a goal against Atlanta will be a factor in the game.
- Finish Them! The Fire have been among the best teams in MLS this season at creating clear chances, ranking in the league’s top three in expected goals (xG) per shot and non-penalty xG. Chicago will create chances in front of goal, but it will be key for league-leading scorer Hugo Cuypers and the Fire to finish those chances and earn three points at home.
- Pack Your Things: Chicago is embarking on a four-game road trip after playing Atlanta on Saturday. The Men in Red are one of only ten teams to have a record of .500 or better on the road in MLS, so they will be ready for the travel. But three points at home will be crucial to set the tone on the road.
By the Numbers
1 – Only one current Fire player has scored a goal against Atlanta: midfielder Maren Haile-Selassie. In a regular season home match against the 5-Stripes on May 20, 2023, the Swiss midfielder one-timed a pass from Kacper Przybyłko to give the Fire a 2-1 lead in the second half. After Atlanta took the lead, Haile-Selassie came through with a pass to Georgios Koutsias that was buried with seconds left in regulation. Coming off a goal and assist on Wednesday against Detroit City FC, Haile-Selassie may very well be getting hot at the right moment.
2 – The Men in Red will seek back-to-back clean sheets in regular season play since Chris Brady recorded two conesecutive shutouts against New York City FC and FC Cincinnati in July 2024. The last time the Fire recorded back-to-back home shutouts was in July of 2023, which was also the last time Chicago recorded three consecutive clean sheets. With no goals allowed in Wednesday's Open Cup match, the Fire will be looking to repeat the feat across all competitions on the lakefront on Saturday.
7 – In a match full of firsts, the Fire saw a Club-high seven Illinois natives take the field on Saturday. Six of them – Chris Brady, Christopher Cupps, Andrew Gutman, Mauricio Pineda, Sergio Oregel, Jr., and Brian Gutiérrez – made history from the onset, breaking a previous record of Academy graduates sharing the pitch and matching a record of Illinois natives on the field set in 2015. But when Bartlett native Jeff Gal unexpectedly entered the pitch in the 40th minute in his MLS debut, the Fire reached the magic number.
How to Watch
Chicago Fire FC Family Day, presented by Hyundai, is scheduled to kick off at 1:30 p.m. CT and the match will be broadcast globally on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, and transmitted locally on wlsam.com (English), and Que Buena 105.1 via the Uforia app (Spanish).
