Match Information
Chicago Fire FC (7-4-2, 23 points) vs. Toronto FC (3-5-5, 14 points)
Saturday, May 23, 2026
7:30 p.m. CT
Soldier Field – Chicago
How to Watch: Apple TV
English: Evan Weston & Dax McCarty
Spanish: Oscar Salazar
How to Listen: WLS 890 AM // TUDN Chicago 106.7-HD2
English: Max Anderson & Joe Chatz
Spanish: Omar Ramos & Liz Jiménez
Summer Concert Series ft. Lupe Fiasco
Postgame concert at Soldier Field
App. 15-20 minutes after final whistle
Match Preview
Following two consecutive victories on the road, Chicago returns to the lakefront to take on Toronto FC on Saturday, May 23, at 7:30 p.m. CT at Soldier Field in the Club’s last match before heading into the 2026 FIFA World Cup break, and the first match of the Summer Concert Series, presented by Café Bustelo.
Chicago wrapped up a two-game road trip with a 2-0 victory against CF Montréal in what was the team’s sixth clean sheet of the season. Following the team’s performance, goalkeeper Chris Brady and defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi earned Team of the Matchday honors for Matchday 14. Also recognized was winger Philip Zinckernagel, who was named to the Team of the Matchday bench after registering his 11th and 12th goal contributions of the season.
Forward Hugo Cuypers continued making history, becoming just the third player in MLS history to score in 10 consecutive matches in which he has appeared. Cuyper’s 67th minute strike was his 13th of the season, keeping him at the top of the Golden Boot table ahead of Lionel Messi and Petar Musa who each have 12.
Toronto travels to Chicago looking to stop a three-game losing streak across all competitions. Most recently, the Reds faced seventh-place Charlotte FC, falling 3-1 at Bank of America Stadium. Three minutes after falling behind 1-0, Haiti international Derrick Etienne Jr. leveled the match for Toronto. But the short-handed visitors could not keep up with Charlotte, as two unanswered goals sealed a tough result for the Reds.
All-Time MLS Regular Season Record vs. TOR: (13-14-14)
Last Game vs. TOR: Oct. 4, 2025 (2-2 D) – Soldier Field – Chicago (Match Recap)
Last Game at TOR: March 15, 2025 (2-1 W) – BMO Field – Toronto (Match Recap)
Hyundai Keys to the Match:
- Superstar: Hugo Cuypers has no fear right now. The MLS Golden Boot leader returns to Soldier Field looking to tie Carlos Vela for the second longest scoring streak in league history at 11. But he is more interested in a different number: three points.
- Kick, Push: After a couple of tough results, the Fire fought their way into a two-game winning streak on the road despite missing some key players. Their resilience can be further rewarded with a win against a tough Toronto FC to make it three in a row going into the World Cup break. Kick, push and away they roll.
- The Show Goes On: The Men in Red will not see the pitch for nearly two months once the final whistle blows, but the blow will be softened when Chicago’s own Lupe Fiasco takes the stage after the match. A Fire win could make the show sweeter as the eyes of the world turn toward the biggest stage of all.
Match Notes
- Saturday’s match marks the 42nd regular season game against the Reds since they joined Major League Soccer in 2007. Toronto enjoys a slight edge against Chicago, with a 14-13-14 record, but the Men in Red limited the Reds to just one point in 2025, earning a 2-1 road victory on March 15, 2025 at BMO Field before playing to a 2-2 draw on Oct. 4, 2025, at Soldier Field.
- Chris Brady has enjoyed much success against Canadian sides, including Toronto FC. The Homegrown goalkeeper has a regular season record of 9-2-4 and six shutouts against CF Montréal, Vancouver Whitecaps FC and Toronto. Brady has earned three wins against the Reds, but wasn’t credited with the shutout in the scoreless draw on May 31, 2023, as he was forced to leave the field with a cut on his forehead in the 30th minute of the game.
- Six current Fire players have scored against Toronto, with Hugo Cuypers and Jack Elliott leading the way with two goals each. Midfielder Chris Mueller has the most goal contributions, however, with five career assists against the Canadian side.
Starting XI
Chicago Fire FC Director of Football and Head Coach Gregg Berhalter has named the last Starting XI prior to the World Cup break.
- Two changes have been made to the Starting XI that earned their sixth shutout of the year in the 2-0 victory against CF Montréal last Saturday in Quebec.
- Anton Salétros returns to the Starting XI after a two-game absence due to a head injury. He will resume his role in the central midfield alongside Homegrown midfielder Mauricio Pineda, who starts for the third straight game.
- Defender Andrew Gutman starts his 55th regular season match with Chicago at left back. The Chicago Fire Academy graduate is back in the starting lineup after coming in as a substitute in the win against Montréal.
- Forward Hugo Cuypers seeks a historic 11th match in a row with a goal in his 75th regular season start for Chicago. Cuypers leads the league with 13 goals at the start of Matchday 15. With two goals tonight, he can tie Carlos Vela for the most goals through the month of May in MLS history, while passing the LAFC legend for second in most consecutive games with a goal.
- Robin Lod will line up alongside Cuypers at forward in his 150th start of his MLS career. The Finnish veteran started in the last two victories for Chicago, scoring an equalizer in the 3-1 win over D.C. United on May 13 before playing all 90 minutes in Montréal.
- The wings will be occupied by Philip Zinckernagel and Maren Haile-Selassie for the second straight match. Both had a couple of fruitful performances in the two road wins against D.C. United and CF Montréal, combining for two goals and three assists in those two days.
- Center backs Mbekezeli Mbokazi and Jack Elliott and right back Jonathan Dean will join Gutman in defense of the Fire goal. The backline will look for a second straight shutout following an MLS Team of the Matchday performance from Mbokazi and Elliott, who dons the captain’s armband.
- Homegrown goalkeeper Chris Brady seeks his fourth victory and second shutout against Toronto FC. The USMNT hopeful will also look for his seventh clean sheet of 2026, the second-best mark in a single season of his career.
- Goalkeeper Josh Cohen; defenders Viktor Radojević, Joel Waterman and Dylan Borso; midfielders Sergio Oregel Jr. and Dje D’Avilla; wingers Chris Mueller and Puso Dithejane; and forward Jason Shokalook are all available off the bench for Chicago.
- Defender Leonardo Barroso (Lower Body) and winger Jonathan Bamba (Not Due to Injury) are unavailable for selection tonight. Midfielder André Franco (Lower Body) remains on the league Injured List and will be unavailable through the World Cup break.
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