CHICAGO (March 24, 2021) - Chicago Fire FC and Major League Soccer today announced the Club’s 34-game schedule for the 2021 MLS regular season. As previously announced, the Fire will open the season against the New England Revolution in its 2021 home opener at Soldier Field on Saturday, April 17. Set to begin at 7:30 p.m. CT, the match against the Revolution will be broadcast live on WGN-TV and Univision Radio Chicago.
Following Chicago’s home opener, the Club will play two consecutive matches on the road, facing Atlanta United FC (April 24) and the New York Red Bulls (May 1).
In addition to the April 17 match against New England, the Fire’s 2021 home schedule includes several marquee matchups. On Saturday, May 22, Chicago will host 2020 expansion side Inter Miami CF, marking the first-ever meeting between the two teams. The match against Inter Miami CF will be nationally televised live on UniMás beginning at 5:00 p.m. CT.
UniMás will also air Chicago’s road clash with 2020 Supporters’ Shield winner Philadelphia Union on Saturday, June 26, with kickoff slated for 5:00 p.m. CT.
Thirty-two of the Club’s regular season games, including the Saturday, Aug. 14 matchup versus reigning MLS Cup champions Columbus Crew SC, will be broadcast locally on WGN-TV and Univision Radio Chicago.
Chicago will play 17 home games and 17 away games during the 2021 campaign, with an emphasis on intra-conference regional play. The Fire will take on Eastern Conference opponents Columbus Crew SC, D.C. United, New York Red Bulls, New England Revolution, New York City FC and Philadelphia Union three times each and Atlanta United FC, CF Montréal, FC Cincinnati, Inter Miami CF, Nashville SC and Toronto FC each twice. The Fire will only face two Western Conference teams in league play in 2021: Real Salt Lake and Sporting Kansas City.
The Club’s longest home stand of the 2021 season will occur from June 23 to July 7. During that stretch, Chicago will host FC Cincinnati (June 23), Philadelphia Union (June 26), Atlanta United (July 3) and Orlando City SC (July 7).
At the end of the regular season, the top seven teams from each conference will qualify for Audi 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs. Full details of the 2021 regular season competition structure can be found here.
2021 Home Opponents: Atlanta United FC, CF Montréal, Columbus Crew SC, D.C. United, FC Cincinnati, Inter Miami CF, Nashville SC, New England Revolution, New York City FC, New York Red Bulls, Orlando City SC, Philadelphia Union, Real Salt Lake, Toronto FC
2021 Away Opponents: Atlanta United FC, CF Montréal, Columbus Crew SC, D.C. United, FC Cincinnati, Inter Miami CF, Nashville SC, New England Revolution, New York City FC, New York Red Bulls, Orlando City SC, Philadelphia Union, Sporting Kansas City, Toronto FC
To download the full Fire schedule, click here.
The Chicago Fire, along with Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot, announced earlier today plans to welcome fans to Soldier Field beginning on April 17. All Chicago Fire ticket holders will receive an email later today from the Club with more information on how to purchase seats for the April 17 match. Season ticket, partial plan and group ticket buyers will get access to tickets before the general public. For more information and a full FAQ on fans attending Fire matches this season, click here.
Chicago Fire FC 2021 Regular Season Schedule:
<strong>Date</strong> |
<strong>Opponent</strong> |
<strong>Time (CT)</strong> |
<strong>Broadcast (TV)</strong> |
<strong>Saturday, April 17</strong> |
<strong>NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION</strong> |
<strong>7:30 p.m.</strong> |
<strong>WGN-TV</strong> |
<p>Saturday, April 24</p> |
<p>at Atlanta United FC</p> |
<p>7:00 p.m.</p> |
<p>WGN-TV</p> |
<p>Saturday, May 1</p> |
<p>at New York Red Bulls</p> |
<p>12:00 p.m.</p> |
<p>WGN-TV</p> |
<strong>Saturday, May 8</strong> |
<strong>PHILADELPHIA UNION</strong> |
<strong>12:00 p.m.</strong> |
<strong>WGN-TV</strong> |
<p>Thursday, May 13</p> |
<p>at D.C. United</p> |
<p>7:00 p.m.</p> |
<p>WGN-TV</p> |
<strong>Saturday, May 22</strong> |
<strong>INTER MIAMI CF</strong> |
<strong>5:00 p.m.</strong> |
<strong>UniMás</strong> |
<strong>Saturday, May 29</strong> |
<strong>CF MONTREAL</strong> |
<strong>12:00 p.m.</strong> |
<strong>WGN-TV</strong> |
<p>Saturday, June 19</p> |
<p>at Columbus Crew SC</p> |
<p>6:30 p.m.</p> |
<p>WGN-TV</p> |
<strong>Wednesday, June 23</strong> |
<strong>FC CINCINNATI</strong> |
<strong>7:00 p.m.</strong> |
<strong>WGN-TV</strong> |
<strong>Saturday, June 26</strong> |
<strong>PHILADELPHIA UNION</strong> |
<strong>7:00 p.m.</strong> |
<strong>WGN-TV</strong> |
<strong>Saturday, July 3</strong> |
<strong>ATLANTA UNITED FC</strong> |
<strong>7:00 p.m.</strong> |
<strong>WGN-TV</strong> |
<strong>Wednesday, July 7</strong> |
<strong>ORLANDO CITY SC</strong> |
<strong>7:00 p.m. </strong> |
<strong>WGN-TV</strong> |
<p>Saturday, July 17</p> |
<p>at Nashville SC</p> |
<p>7:30 p.m. </p> |
<p>WGN-TV</p> |
<strong>Wednesday, July 21</strong> |
<strong>D.C. UNITED</strong> |
<strong>7:00 p.m. </strong> |
<strong>WGN-TV</strong> |
<strong>Saturday, July 24</strong> |
<strong>TORONTO FC</strong> |
<strong>7:00 p.m.</strong> |
<strong>WGN-TV</strong> |
<p>Sunday, Aug. 1</p> |
<p>at Philadelphia Union</p> |
<p>5:00 p.m.</p> |
<p>UniMás</p> |
<strong>Wednesday, Aug. 4</strong> |
<strong>NEW YORK CITY FC</strong> |
<strong>7:00 p.m. </strong> |
<strong>WGN-TV</strong> |
<strong>Sunday, Aug. 8</strong> |
<strong>NEW YORK RED BULLS</strong> |
<strong>5:00 p.m. </strong> |
<strong>WGN-TV</strong> |
<strong>Saturday, Aug. 14</strong> |
<strong>COLUMBUS CREW SC</strong> |
<strong>7:00 p.m. </strong> |
<strong>WGN-TV</strong> |
<p>Wednesday, Aug. 18</p> |
<p>at Inter Miami CF</p> |
<p>TBD</p> |
<p>WGN-TV</p> |
<p>Saturday, Aug. 21</p> |
<p>at Orlando City SC</p> |
<p>7:00 p.m.</p> |
<p>WGN-TV</p> |
<p>Saturday, Aug. 28</p> |
<p>at New York Red Bulls</p> |
<p>5:00 p.m.</p> |
<p>WGN-TV</p> |
<p>Saturday, Sept. 11</p> |
<p>at Sporting Kansas City</p> |
<p>7:30 p.m.</p> |
<p>WGN-TV</p> |
<p>Wednesday, Sept. 15</p> |
<p>at D.C. United</p> |
<p>7:00 p.m.</p> |
<p>WGN-TV</p> |
<p>Sunday, Sept. 19</p> |
<p>at CF Montréal</p> |
<p>12:00 p.m.</p> |
<p>WGN-TV</p> |
<strong>Sunday, Sept. 26</strong> |
<strong>NASHVILLE SC</strong> |
<strong>12:00 p.m.</strong> |
<strong>WGN-TV</strong> |
<strong>Wednesday, Sept. 29</strong> |
<strong>NEW YORK CITY FC</strong> |
<strong>7:00 p.m.</strong> |
<strong>WGN-TV</strong> |
<p>Sunday, Oct. 3</p> |
<p>at Toronto FC</p> |
<p>3:00 p.m.</p> |
<p>WGN-TV</p> |
<p>Saturday, Oct. 16</p> |
<p>at New England Revolution</p> |
<p>6:00 p.m.</p> |
<p>WGN-TV</p> |
<p>Wednesday, Oct. 20</p> |
<p>at FC Cincinnati</p> |
<p>6:30 p.m.</p> |
<p>WGN-TV</p> |
<strong>Saturday, Oct. 23</strong> |
<strong>REAL SALT LAKE</strong> |
<strong>7:00 p.m.</strong> |
<strong>WGN-TV</strong> |
<p>Wednesday, Oct. 27</p> |
<p>at New York City FC </p> |
<p>TBD</p> |
<p>WGN-TV</p> |
<strong>Sunday, Oct. 31</strong> |
<strong>NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION</strong> |
<strong>12:00 p.m.</strong> |
<strong>WGN-TV</strong> |
<p>Sunday, Nov. 7</p> |
<p>at Columbus Crew SC</p> |
<p>2:30 p.m.</p> |
<p>WGN-TV</p> |
Additional Key Moments in the 2021 MLS Schedule
Decision Day: In a final day of action on Sunday, Nov. 7, all teams will face intra-conference opponents in a battle for playoff spots and seeding. In two back-to-back broadcast windows, each conference will see their games kick off simultaneously to determine who is in, and who is out of the Audi 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs. The Fire will face reigning MLS Cup champions Columbus Crew SC on Decision Day 2021.
MLS Cup: Major League Soccer’s championship match will be played on Dec. 11 at 2:00 p.m. CT and air live on ABC, UniMás, TSN and TVA Sports.
Additional Notes about the 2021 MLS Schedule
- With a focus on the health and safety of all players and staff, MLS clubs will continue to travel on charter flights during the pandemic. In an effort to minimize travel and time on the road, the number of regional matches has been increased and clubs will travel the day of the game whenever possible.
- MLS will break during the June FIFA international window, as well as July 9-16 around the opening of the Concacaf Gold Cup. MLS clubs were presented with the option to play during the September FIFA international window, with 14 clubs electing to do so.
- Due to travel restrictions between the U.S. and Canada, the three Canadian clubs will play MLS regular season matches in the following U.S. cities and venues until a return to their home markets is permitted:
- CF Montreal: Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; Inter Miami CF Stadium
- Toronto FC: Orlando, Fla.; Exploria Stadium
- Vancouver Whitecaps FC: Sandy, Utah; Rio Tinto Stadium
