Chicago Fire FC returns to the lakefront to open the home portion of the 2025 MLS Regular Season on Saturday night, when the Men in Red face longtime rival D.C. United at Soldier Field. First kick is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. CT. The match will be broadcast live on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, and transmitted locally in English on WLS 890 AM and in Spanish on Que Buena 105.1 FM via the Uforia App.
Director of Football & Head Coach Gregg Berhalter will make his Soldier Field debut following a 2-4 loss to the Crew to open the season in Columbus last Saturday. He will field the following Starting XI looking for the first win of 2025:
- One change has been made to the Starting XI that took the field in Columbus.
- Following a decorated career at New York Red Bulls II and the University of North Carolina, midfielder Sam Williams will make his MLS debut Saturday night. The midfielder will fill in for Brian Gutiérrez in the center of the pitch, who is unavailable due to suspension.
- Lining up next to Williams in the midfield will be Sergio Oregel, Jr., who earns his second consecutive start of 2025 and his career. Kellyn Acosta will once again wear the captain’s armband and anchor the midfield alongside Oregel, Jr. and Williams.
- Goalkeeper Chris Brady will start in goal on Saturday, making the 65th start of his career and 31st all-time at Soldier Field.
- Assisting Brady in defense of the Fire goal will be Jack Elliott and Carlos Terán at center back. The match will mark Elliott’s home debut for the Fire, in a venue where he has played five matches as a member of the Philadelphia Union. Terán will make his 29th start at Soldier Field and 81st appearance overall for the Fire.
- Jonathan Dean and Andrew Gutman reprise their starting roles at right and left back, respectively, after playing a full 90 minutes in those positions last Saturday.
- After recording two assists in an electrifying performance at Columbus, Jonathan Bamba will make his Soldier Field debut on the left wing. The winger will start opposite Philip Zinckernagel, who will occupy the right wing spot in support of Hugo Cuypers, making his second consecutive start of 2025 at the center forward position.
- Beside Gutiérrez, defenders Leonardo Barroso (Lower Body) and Chase Gasper (Lower Body); and midfielders Dylan Borso (Lower Body), Maren Haile-Selassie (Lower Body), Rominigue Kouamé (Lower Body), David Poreba (Lower Body) and Chris Mueller (Not Due to Injury) will be unavailable for selection for tonight’s match.
- Available off the bench for Berhalter will be goalkeeper Jeff Gal; defenders Sam Rogers, Omar González, Justin Reynolds and Christopher Cupps; midfielders Mauricio Pineda, Omari Glasgow and Harold Osorio; and forward Tom Barlow.
