Chicago Fire FC

Chicago Fire was founded on October 8, 1997, as an MLS expansion club. Its first season in 1998 brought both the MLS Cup and the U.S. Open Cup.⁠[1]

Further U.S. Open Cup titles followed in 2000, 2003 and 2006. In June 2006, the Fire moved into Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Illinois.⁠[1]

The Fire also won the Supporters’ Shield in 2003, awarded for the best MLS regular-season record.⁠[2]

On September 6, 2007, Andrew Hauptman’s Andell Holdings announced that it had completed the acquisition of AEG’s interests in Chicago Fire.⁠[1]

Morningstar founder Joe Mansueto acquired a 49 percent stake on July 11, 2018. On September 13, 2019, he purchased Hauptman’s controlling interest and became the club’s sole owner and chairman.⁠[3][4]

On November 21, 2019, the club introduced the formal name Chicago Fire Football Club and the Fire Crown crest ahead of its return to Chicago’s Soldier Field for the 2020 season.⁠[5]

The club returned to Soldier Field in 2020, but the pandemic disrupted its planned home opener and kept spectators out of its home matches that season.⁠[6]

Following sustained criticism of the 2019 badge, the club sought new fan input. Matthew Wolff’s design, unveiled on June 18, 2021, combined a C, a six-pointed star, a Florian cross and Chicago flag colors. It entered full use in the 2022 preseason.⁠[6][7]

On September 30, 2025, Gregg Berhalter’s Fire defeated Inter Miami 5–3 away to secure their first MLS playoff berth since 2017.⁠[8]

Berhalter entered 2026 as director of football and head coach, with Soldier Field remaining the regular home venue. Chicago had finished eighth in the East with 53 points in 2025 and exited in the first-round best-of-three playoff series.⁠[9]

On March 3, 2026, the club broke ground on a new stadium at The 78 in Chicago’s South Loop. The privately financed project carried an announced cost of $750 million and was planned to open before the 2028 MLS season.⁠[10]

On May 13, 2026, the club announced that the new stadium would be named McDonald’sMcDonald’sMcDonald’s is a publicly traded restaurant company headquartered in Chicago, known for hamburgers, fries, drive-thrus and its franchise network. Its origins lie in the restaurant opened by Richard and Maurice McDonald in 1940; Ray Kroc expanded franchising from 1955. It operates across more than 100 countries, with the great majority of restaurants run by independent operators.Open the full entry Park, with opening still planned for 2028.⁠[11]

In a separate May 15 announcement, the club moved its November 7 home match against Columbus CrewColumbus CrewColumbus Crew is an MLS club in Columbus, Ohio, operated by Haslam Sports Group and the Edwards family. Its home is ScottsMiracle-Gro Field.Open the full entry to SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview because of a conflict with the Chicago BearsChicago BearsThe Chicago Bears are a professional American football team in the National Football League (NFL), competing in the NFC North. They play at Soldier Field in Chicago and are headquartered at Halas Hall in Lake Forest, Illinois. The franchise originated as the Staley Starch Company's team in Decatur, Illinois, and joined the American Professional Football Association, later renamed the NFL, as a charter member on September 17, 1920. One of two surviving NFL charter franchises, the team adopted its current name in 1922. The Bears have won nine league championships, including Super Bowl XX following the 1985 season. The McCaskey family has controlled the team since founder George Halas died in 1983.Open the full entry’ NFLNFLThe NFL (National Football League) is a U.S. professional American football league of 32 clubs. Founded in 1920 as the APFA and renamed in 1922, it is organized into the AFC and NFC, with the season culminating in the Super Bowl.Open the full entry schedule.⁠[12]

On June 29, 2026, the Fire announced the signing of Polish striker Robert Lewandowski from Barcelona as a Designated Player through the 2027–28 season. At announcement, his registration remained subject to a P-1 visa and international transfer certificate.⁠[2]

Chicago Fire FC: Official website: https://www.chicagofirefc.com/ (opens in a new window).⁠[13]