Match Information
Chicago Fire FC (6-4-2, 20 points) at CF Montréal (4-7-1, 13 points)
Saturday, May 16, 2026
3:30 p.m. CT
Stade Saputo – Montréal
How to Watch: Apple TV
English: Blake Price & Paul Dolan
Spanish: Sergio Ruíz & Walter Roque
French: Frederic Lord & Vincent Destouches
How to Listen: wlsam.com // TUDN Chicago 106.7-HD2
English: Max Anderson & Joe Chatz
Spanish: Omar Ramos & Teresa Limón
Match Preview
Chicago Fire FC heads north of the border to face CF Montréal for the second time this season on Saturday, May 16.
Chicago arrives in Quebec after a rain-soaked 3-1 victory Wednesday night at D.C. United. After an opening strike by Tai Baribo shortly before halftime, Robin Lod headed home a cross from Philip Zinckernagel to equalize. But a red-hot Hugo Cuypers soon gave the Fire a lead with his league-leading 12th goal of the season, before Maren Haile-Selassie laced home the finishing touch on Chicago’s sixth victory of 2026.
CF Montréal enters Matchday 14 unbeaten at home in their last three games across all competitions. After a 5-0 victory over Alberta Premier League side Calgary Blizzard SC in the Canadian Championship on May 6, Montréal remained at Stade Saputo for two league matches against Orlando City SC on Saturday night and Portland Timbers on Wednesday. Following 90 tense minutes, the hosts struck twice in stoppage time to defeat Orlando. They followed it up with a back-and-forth affair against Portland that resulted in a 2-2 draw, helping the Bleu-blanc-noir stay within striking distance of the playoff picture.
All-Time MLS Regular Season Record vs. MTL: (11-13-8)
Last Game vs. MTL: Feb. 28, 2025 (3-0 W) – Soldier Field – Chicago (Match Recap)
Last Game at MTL: July 19, 2025 (2-0 W) – Stade Saputo – Montréal, Quebec (Match Recap)
Hyundai Keys to the Match:
- Déjà vu: Chicago is in Quebec for a rematch with CF Montréal. Last time they met, the Fire won 3-0, scoring two stoppage time goals on a windy afternoon at Soldier Field...just like they did two years prior. The last time at Stade Saputo? Hugo Cuypers and Jack Elliott scored in a 2-0 win in 2025. Let’s run it back!
- Je ne sais quoi: There is something about Chris Brady and Canada. The USMNT hopeful has won eight times against Canadian sides, including a career-high four wins and four shutouts against Montréal. The Homegrown goalkeeper could be in for another good afternoon against the Bleu-blanc-noir.
- À fond: The matinee showdown at Stade Saputo will be Chicago’s last road match before the World Cup break. It’ll be a maximum effort to bring home three points before playing Montréal’s hated rival, Toronto FC, at Soldier Field next weekend.
Match Notes
- Saturday’s match will be the 33rd regular season match between Chicago and Montréal, dating back to the Canadian side’s very first game in Major League Soccer – a 1-1 draw at the Montreal Olympic Stadium on March 17, 2012.
- Montréal enjoys a 13-11-8 all-time regular season record against Chicago. But the Fire got the upper hand in their last two meetings – a 3-0 victory in their home opener on Feb. 28 and a 2-0 victory at Stade Saputo in 2025.
- Goalkeeper Chris Brady has enjoyed much success against Canadian sides and especially against CF Montréal. The Homegrown goalkeeper has a regular season record of 8-2-4 against Toronto FC, Vancouver Whitecaps FC and Montréal. Four of those eight victories have come against the Bleu-blanc-noir, his highest tally against any team in MLS, as well as a career-best four clean sheets
Starting XI
Chicago Fire FC Director of Football and Head Coach Gregg Berhalter has named the following Starting XI ahead of the team’s last road match before the World Cup break.
- Three changes were made to the Starting XI that came back to earn a 3-1 win against D.C. United on Wednesday night at Audi Field.
- Viktor Radojević will make his first career start in Major League Soccer at left back. The Serbian defender previously earned his first start for the Fire in the 2026 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Round of 32 match at Detroit City FC on April 14. He will join right back Jonathan Dean in defense of the Fire goal.
- Joel Waterman returns to his old stomping grounds in his first start in the midfield for the Fire. The Canadian international will fill in for Dje D’Avilla (Yellow Card Accumulation) in the center of the park, sharing it with Homegrown midfielder Mauricio Pineda in his second straight start this week.
- Maren Haile-Selassie slots into the left wing in his return to the starting lineup. The Swiss winger came off the bench to score his third goal of the season in Wednesday’s victory over D.C. United.
- Forward Hugo Cuypers will lead the Fire attack looking to make league history. With a goal against Montréal, Cuypers could become only the third player to ever score in 10 consecutive matches in MLS, trailing only Atlanta’s Josef Martínez (2019) and Carlos Vela (2019-20). A goal could also extend his lead on the league’s Golden Boot race at the start of Matchday 14.
- Philip Zinckernagel seeks his 10th goal contribution of the season on the right wing. Zinckernagel sparked the comeback on Wednesday night with his fifth assist of 2026, a cross that forward Robin Lod finished to equalize the match. Lod will appear in the 170th regular season match of his career today, lining up next to Cuypers at forward.
- Center backs Mbekezeli Mbokazi and Jack Elliott start their second consecutive match in the heart of the Fire backline. Elliott wears the captain’s armband in his 11th start of the year and will look for a goal for a second straight time at Stade Saputo after scoring in Chicago’s 2-0 win in Montréal on July 19, 2025.
- Homegrown goalkeeper Chris Brady seeks his third consecutive clean sheet and fifth overall against CF Montréal in his 105th regular season start for Chicago. Brady has fared well against Montréal, posting four wins and four shutouts against the Quebecois side in his career.
- Goalkeeper Josh Cohen; defenders Sam Rogers, Andrew Gutman, Dylan Borso and Jack Sandmeyer; midfielder David Poreba; wingers Chris Mueller and Puso Dithejane; and forward Jason Shokalook are all available off the bench for Chicago.
- Beside D’Avilla, defender Leonardo Barroso (Lower Body); midfielders Anton Salétros (Head) and Sergio Oregel Jr. (Head); and winger Jonathan Bamba (Not Due to Injury) are unavailable for selection against Montréal. Midfielder André Franco (Lower Body) remains on the league Injured List and will be unavailable through the World Cup break.
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