Match Information
Chicago Fire FC (14-9-6, 48 points) vs. New England Revolution (15-10-4, 49 points)
Saturday, October 17, 2026
6:30 p.m. CT
Gillette Stadium – Foxborough, Mass.
How to Watch:Â Apple TV
English: Tony Husband & Ross Smith
Spanish: Alejandro Figueredo & Tony Cherchi
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 embarks on a two-game road stretch that begins against the New England Revolution on Saturday, Oct. 17.
In the last of a three-game homestand on Wednesday night, winger Maren Haile-Selassie tallied his third goal in as many matches to give the Fire a 1-0 lead against Philadelphia Union at halftime. But the Fire went down to 10 men shortly before the break, giving the Union a numerical advantage they exploited just five minutes into the second half to equalize. The momentum fully swung toward the visitors as forward Bruno Damiani recorded a brace to seal a 3-1 victory for Philadelphia.
Another Eastern Conference contender – the New England Revolution – follows. The Fire’s longtime rivals came away with a victory at Soldier Field on Sept. 13 before another win placed them second in the East. But New England followed the results with a pair of 3-0 losses to Western Conference opponents. A rebound performance on the road against FC Cincinnati on Wednesday night gave the Revolution three crucial points, clinching a postseason berth for the first time since 2023 and third place in the East.
All-Time MLS Regular Season Record vs. NE: (28-26-22)
Last Match vs. NE: Sept. 13, 2026 (1-2 L) – Soldier Field – Chicago (Match Recap)
Last Match at NE: Oct. 18, 2025 (2-2 D) – Gillette Stadium – Foxborough, Mass. (Match Recap)
Hyundai Keys to the Match:
- The Red Monster: Maren Haile-Selassie remains red-hot, scoring for a third consecutive match on Wednesday night. Another goal on Saturday will match a career-high four-game scoring streak and 11 goal contributions in 11 matches.
- Norwegian Takeover: One of the Fire’s premier midseason acquisitions has quickly adjusted to his new side. Andreas Hanche-Olsen made his debut in the win against New York City and followed it with 45 minutes against Philadelphia. He’ll be ready to go in New England, be it from the start or from the bench.
- Brady in Foxborough: Homegrown goalkeeper Chris Brady is looking for his 13th win of the year, a career-high mark after posting 12 wins in 2025. He's also primed for his first win at Gillette Stadium after tying both matches he has competed in at the iconic venue.
Match Notes
- The Men in Red have an all-time series lead of 28-26-22, with the 112 goals scored against the Revolution the most against any team in Major League Soccer.
- Defender Jack Elliott leads the current Fire roster with three goals against New England, while wingers Maren Haile-Selassie and Philip Zinckernagel follow with two. Haile-Selassie scored in the last match against the Revolution on Sept. 13. Zinckernagel's last goal at Gillette Stadium made him the first player in Club history to record 15 goals and 15 assists in a single season.
- Defenders Jack Elliott (Suspended) and Sam Rogers (Lower Body), and midfielders André Franco (Lower Body) and Robin Lod (Lower Body) will not be available against the Revolution. Anzor Mekvabishvili (Lower Body) is listed as Questionable for the match.
Starting XI
Chicago Fire FC Director of Football and Head Coach Gregg Berhalter has tasked the following Starting XI with clinching a second consecutive postseason berth on the road:
- Tonight's Starting XI features five changes from the side that closed out a three-game homestand against the Philadelphia Union on Wednesday night.
- Andreas Hanche-Olsen will start a match in Major League Soccer for the first time tonight. The Norwegian center back made his Fire debut one week ago in stoppage time of the comeback win against New York City FC before coming in at halftime on Wednesday. He will fill in next to Mbekezeli Mbokazi, who starts his fifth game in a row since returning from the Injured List on Sept. 26.
- Mbokazi will be the only defender from the Philadelphia match to return to the Starting XI, as both fullback spots will see a different face. Andrew Gutman returns to the left side of the line for the first time since Sept. 19, while Leonardo Barroso is back on the right after three straight starts at left back before coming off the bench on Wednesday night.
- Dje D'Avilla is back from suspension in his customary space in the center of the pitch alongside Anton Salétros, who wears the captain's armband tonight in place of defender Jack Elliott (Suspended).
- One day short of a year since breaking the Fire's single-season record for goal contributions, Philip Zinckernagel is back in the Starting XI against the Revolution. His goal on Oct. 18, 2025 at Gillette Stadium gave him 15 for the season to go with a single-season best 15 assists, helping the Fire earn home field advantage in the Wild Card round during the 2025 postseason.
- Jonathan Bamba will make a fifth consecutive start opposite Zinckernagel in the left wing of the Fire attack. The winger has two goal contributions in his last three matches, including an assist of Maren Haile-Selassie's 11th goal of the season against Philadelphia. Currently holding a team-leading 21 goal contributions in 2026, Haile-Selassie will look for more alongside Polish striker Robert Lewandowski in his first trip to New England.
- Homegrown goalkeeper Chris Brady seeks a career-best 13th win of the season in his 28th start of the year. Brady also seeks his first win at Gillette Stadium, where he and the Fire have tied the two games he's taken part in.
- Available off the bench are goalkeeper Josh Cohen; defenders Jonathan Dean and Noah Allen; midfielders Mauricio Pineda, Anzor Mekvabishvili, David Poreba and Sergio Oregel Jr.; and forwards Puso Dithejane and Johan Gómez.
- Aside from Elliott, defender Sam Rogers (Lower Body), and midfielders André Franco (Lower Body) and Robin Lod (Lower Body) are not available for selection in Foxborough.
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