Chicago Fire FC will wrap up a three-game homestand with a rematch against Eastern Conference foe Charlotte FC on Saturday, June 28.
The Men in Red return to action after a midweek 1-0 loss to the Philadelphia Union to open up the second half of the season. They will look for a repeat performance of their last match against Charlotte, a 4-1 victory at Bank of America Stadium in the Queen City highlighted by midfielder Brian Gutiérrez's second brace of the season and defender Andrew Gutman's two assists. Their performances earned them a place on the MLS Team of the Matchday for Matchday 14.
Charlotte will hope to erase the sting of two straight road losses to the Union and Sporting KC, the last coming with a lead at the end of 90 minutes before allowing two goals in the third and sixth minute of stoppage time. They now turn their attention to Chicago, against whom they lost on May 17. Patrick Agyemang scored the only goal for Charlotte in the match, but the striker will be away with the U.S. Men’s National Team on Saturday in the ongoing Concacaf Gold Cup. The loss ended a five-game winning streak against the Men in Red, against whom they are 5-2-0 all-time in league play.
Game Information
CHICAGO FIRE FC (7-7-4, 25 points) at Charlotte FC (8-10-1, 25 points)
Saturday, June 28, 2025
Soldier Field – Chicago
All-Time MLS Regular Season Record vs. CLT: (2-5-0)
Last Game vs. CLT: May 15, 2024 (0-1 L) – Soldier Field – Chicago (Match Recap)
Last Game at CLT: May 17, 2025 (4-1 W) – Bank of America Stadium – Charlotte, N.C. (Match Recap)
Keys to the Match
Flip the Script: Chicago is eager to wrap up a three-game homestand with a win, just three days after a close loss to league leaders Philadelphia. The short turnaround is something Chicago especially appreciates against a tired Charlotte side coming off a stoppage-time loss on Wednesday. As one of the best teams at generating clear chances in the league, the Fire can’t wait to return to Soldier Field on Saturday and finish those chances before going on the road the following weekend.
Killer Instinct: Coming off their game against Philadelphia, Chicago is hungry for a home win. Charlotte's road form may help the Fire, with eight of their 10 losses coming away from home. One of those two losses at home came against the Fire: a 4-1 result in the Queen City. The Men in Red are entering this matchup smelling blood in the water, prepared to add to their 35 goals, five more than Charlotte's tally this season. The Men in Red need a killer instinct on their turf against a team enduring a tough road trip.
No Goals on Gal: Jeff Gal has stepped up to the plate this season while Homegrown goalkeeper Chris Brady has been on international duty. Gal has played at a world-class level in his tenure in Chicago, with his 1.10 goals against average being the eighth-best number among all goalkeepers in the league with a minimum of five games. With eight saves and a 61.5 save percentage, Gal has been an impregnable fortress in one of the toughest stretches of the Fire season. Gal has been confident in goal, something his hometown fans are excited to see.
By the Numbers
1 – Omar González was one of the latest additions to the 2025 Chicago Fire FC roster shortly before the season started in February, seeing few minutes in the opening months. But the veteran defender has now seen consecutive starts for the Fire, putting him only one away from reaching 300 regular season matches played in Major League Soccer. If González plays Saturday against Charlotte, he will join a list of 71 players with 300 games, including just 13 active players in the league.
4.12 – Philip Zinckernagel began the second half of the season with a wedding, a 2025 MLS All-Star Game nod, a Fire-leading 14 goal contributions in 15 matches, and the league lead in expected goals (xG) efficiency.
Measured by the difference between goal output and expected goals, Zinckernagel is outpacing his xG by 4.12 goals this season, the most efficient number in the league. The quality indicator offers a new way to appreciate the Danish striker's all-around play, but especially the goals he creates out of thin air, whether in traffic or from distance.
18 – Two players have appeared in all 18 matches so far this season for Chicago: defender Andrew Gutman and winger Jonathan Bamba. Gutman has played 1,496 minutes this season for his hometown club, just three behind fellow defender Jack Elliott, and the most with a single team in one season since 2022 with Atlanta United FC. In those minutes, the defender turned in eight goal contributions – just two behind Bamba’s 10, good for third place on the team behind front line mates Zinckernagel and Hugo Cuypers and buoyed by a Club-leading seven assists.
How to Watch
Chicago returns to the lakefront this weekend to take on Charlotte FC on Saturday, June 28. The match will kick off at 7:30 p.m. and will be broadcast globally on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV and transmitted locally on wlsam.com (English) and Que Buena Fire via the Uforia App (Spanish).
