In this edition of Oppo Research, Hudson River Blue spoke with Joe Chatz of On Tap Sports Net to learn more about the Chicago Fire, New York City FC's opponent at Yankee Stadium on Sunday afternoon. Here is your NYCFC vs Chicago preview.
• League Form: W-W-D-L-L
• Record: 5W, 4D, 4L | 19 points, 9th place
• Scoring Leader: Hugo Cuypyers, 8 goals
• Assist Leader: Jonathan Bamba, 4 assists
1. Chicago has found its footing
Hudson River Blue: The Chicago Fire were just three points off a playoff spot before facing NYCFC in August 2024, but they won just one of their final eight games to finish dead last in the Eastern Conference. The team had a big overhaul in the winter, bringing in longtime USMNT head coach Gregg Berhalter and many new signings. With the club currently sitting in a playoff spot, how do you assess the season so far under Berhalter?
Joe Chatz: The goal for the 2025 Chicago Fire has always been one thing: Make the playoffs. It’s taken some time, but the Fire appear to finally be finding their footing in MLS as they’re without a loss in their last three.
The season has been moderately successful thus far, but the Fire have left plenty of points on the board through missed chances, particularly against the New York Red Bulls and FC Cincinnati.
Four of Chicago’s five wins have come away from home, so getting results at Soldier Field is the next thing the Fire need to figure out if they want to be successful in 2025.
The season has endured plenty of ups and downs already, and I’d expect their performances to continue as such in year one under Berhalter.
2. Jonathan Bamba is living up to the hype
HRB: Celta Vigo transfer Jonathan Bamba is off to a great start with the club, recording a team-leading four assists. With Hugo Cuypers again leading the offense with eight goals, how important has Bamba been in creating chances for Cuypers and the rest of the frontline?
JC: Bamba is just another player that defenders need to be wary of, which isn’t something that Cuypers had in the front three with the Fire in 2024.
Bamba and fellow offseason acquisition Philip Zinckernagel have been crucial to developing Chicago’s attack and it has allowed Brian Gutiérrez to flourish in a midfield role.
Bamba’s numbers have been very good, but they could be better. If he starts scoring more consistently, he will have even more passing lanes. So he’s another piece on the Fire’s roster that is still a work in progress.
Regardless, Bamba is showing why he was signed as a Designated Player.
3. Chicago's defense had a rough start to 2025 but is improving
HRB: Chicago conceded 24 goals in 13 games, tied for the second-most in the Eastern Conference. The defense has been an issue for the past couple of seasons, but do you think the backline could gradually improve with new center backs Jack Elliott and Sam Rogers?
JC: Well, the seven goals against Nashville skews the data a bit, but the Fire didn’t play a clean match defensively in the first two months of the season. They’ve been much stronger defensively in May and that has been the result of fewer mistakes in front of their own goal with the ball.
Jack Elliott has proven to be a massive addition for the club on the pitch and in the locker room. He’s a floor-raiser in MLS who is also a great threat for Chicago on set pieces.
Sam Rogers has shown improvement since his early-season struggles and has talent that Chicago’s coaching staff believes in, and 16-year-old Homegrown defender Christopher Cupps is also an option for the Fire at center back and he has looked the part so far in his brief MLS career.
The backline was always going to be an issue for the Fire in 2025 once they made wholesale changes at center back in the offseason but there has been progress of late.
4. The X-Factor: Hugo Cuypers
HRB: What's the X-factor that could decide this game?
JC: Hugo Cuypers finishing his chances in front of goal.
Cuypers is Chicago’s top scorer despite leaving more than a few goals on the pitch in 2025. The combination of Jonathan Bamba and Andrew Gutman down the Fire’s left wing has consistently created chances, and it’s been all about whether or not Cuypers finishes those opportunities.
It’s also a soccer match at a baseball stadium, so I’m expecting at least one weird thing to occur.
5. Predicted score, Starting XI
HRB: Prediction time: Starting XI? Final score?
JC: Fire 3-2 NYCFC.
