Reflecting on the Best Fire Season in Eight Years
There will be no Cinderella run in the MLS Cup Playoffs in the end for the Chicago Fire.
The Men in Red, faced with the toughest possible opponent in Supporters’ Shield champions Philadelphia Union, were swept in the first round. Saturday’s game two was one to forget. Marred by defensive errors in the first half, the Fire went into the break down 3-0. The second half was a lifeless slog to the finish line, tainted by controversial chanting from the stands that induced a match suspension.
Chicago’s performance in game two was a far cry from what they displayed in Philadelphia six days prior. A 2-2 draw, though followed by a penalty shootout defeat, had been a positive sign for the Fire.
In the end, despite the sweep and consequent elimination, the club and its fans can look back on 2025 as a step in the right direction. An eight-year playoff drought has been broken. A tactically sound manager has found his footing. The fans are flocking to the stadium in record numbers.
This is an organization on the up, and there are plenty of reasons to be hopeful going into the offseason.
Entertaining, High-Octane Soccer
Throughout the year, the Fire attack produced show-stopping moments. Led by key addition Philip Zinckernagel, the Men in Red were the league’s second-highest scoring team in the regular season. 30-year-old Zinckernagel contributed 15 goals and 17 assists across the regular season and postseason. Second-year striker Hugo Cuypers bagged 19 goals in total.
Additionally, the Fire were able to stay above the playoff line for much of the year. Any time they had a dip in form, they bounced back with a big win. Among other big results, the Men in Red dispatched Inter Miami 5-3 on the road to punch an MLS Cup Playoffs ticket. That was the third in a streak of shock upset wins over favored opponents. The Fire had previously blanked Minnesota United and the Columbus Crew, both playoff teams themselves. Other notable victories included a 7-1 thrashing of DC United and a 3-2 triumph over Charlotte FC.
Perhaps the most impressive part in all of this? The Fire stayed consistent despite constant injuries. For the bulk of their 37-game slate in 2025, Chicago did not have a fully healthy team. On occasion, the availability report ruled out as many as 8 players at once.
This continued into the final stretch of the season, as fan favorite loan signing Andre Franco got hurt after just four appearances. Zinckernagel picked up a knock and missed game one of the series against Philadelphia, while goalkeeper Chris Brady was ruled out of game two. Nonetheless, the Fire held strong.
What’s the Goal for Next Year?
With the level of parity in MLS these days, it’s always hard to determine how a team’s season is going to go. The Fire last made the playoffs in 2017, and did so as the third seed, but then didn’t return for eight years. That’s not a drought they want to replicate. At the very least, the goal for Gregg Berhalter’s team is to return to the postseason in 2026.
Can the Fire push for a deeper run in a year’s time? Perhaps.
They’ve already been active in the transfer portal, securing the services of Swedish midfielder Anton Saletros. Question marks remain over the fate of homegrown talent Brian Gutierrez, who recently secured his Mexican passport in what appears to be a bid to move to Liga MX. Regardless, Chicago’s recent scouting work provides hope that they can fill any gaps with ease.
With how well the Fire were playing towards the end of the season, it’s hard not to feel disappointed with the playoff run coming to an end. But when measured against their last season, the Fire’s year was a historic one.
Berhalter and the players have been very clear from day one – this is just the start.
The best is yet to come for the Chicago Fire Football Club.
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Categorized:Fire