The Chicago Fire made some big moves forward in coach Gregg Berhalter’s first year at the helm in 2025.
The Fire played in the MLS postseason for just the third time in 16 years. They hosted a playoff game for the first time since 2017.
They watched Hugo Cuypers (17 goals and three assists in the regular season) and Philip Zinckernagel (15 goals, 15 assists) develop into productive offensive stars.
The team is hoping for even better things as the team gets ready to host its first home game of the season at 1:30 p.m. Feb. 28 when it plays Montreal at Soldier Field.
Zinckernagel is signed through 2028 and is looking forward to helping the Fire become a perennial power.
.“The season we had — getting back into the playoffs and being successful — we want to be better,” he said during the preseason. “It was a great step for the club and an amazing season and I really love it here. So, yeah, I think it was a good decision to sign here.”
Meanwhile, the Fire opened the season on Feb. 21 with a 2-1 setback at Houston.
Cuypers got the season off to a good start with a goal in the 31st minute. But in the second half, Houston’s Guilherme Santos scored goals in the 66th and 77th minutes.
This tale-of-two-halves scenario did not sit well with Berhalter.
“It was a good lesson for us,” he said. “We stopped playing and came out of the locker room and it was like we stayed in the locker room.
“We gave each other balls in difficult positions and just basically had a lack of movement. It’s like we were on autopilot and for us, I think it’s a good lesson.”
Like a lot of teams in the MLS, there is a lot of movement with the roster.
One of the players gone is Reavis graduate Brian Gutierrez. He was transferred, is now playing for Guadalajara and recently earned a spot on the Mexican national team. He has 10 goals during the regular season for the Fire in 2025.
“We always thought that Guti was ready to take that next step,” Berhalter said. “He’s always going to be welcome at this club. But in terms of stimulus and growth that he needs to continue on his career, we thought it was a good idea to pursue a different environment.”
Notable newcomers to the Fire are Anton Saletros, who played in Sweden, and young South African players Puso Dithejan (21 years old) and Mbekezeli Mbokazi (20).
“Chicago plays some attractive football and I want to be a part of that,” Saletros said. “So, for me it was quite an easy decision to come here.”
The Fire used to call Bridgeview their home. But they now play a majority of their games at Solider Field and play a smattering of games at SeatGeek Stadium when there is a conflict with the Chicago Bears.
The NFL schedule is expected to announce its scheduled in mid-May.
Due to the World Cup, the MLS will take a break from May 25-July 16 which is why the regular season stared in February and lasts into November.