Fire Preview: Great Expectations

CHICAGO, IL–Chicago Fire FC reached heights not seen in a while after making the playoffs last season. They also won a playoff game, too!

This season, the Chicago Fire has a direction to keep building and getting better. With some new players and new chemistry, expectations are to go even higher in 2026.

Over the preseason, there was some success with matches in Florida and in California. Even though the club had some injuries, they appear to be ready to take on Major League Soccer starting with a match in Houston for its season opener on Saturday, February 21st (7:30pm, Apple TV).

“Attacking-wise, we’ve taken it to another level,” Chicago Fire head coach Gregg Berhalter said. “In every game, we’ve created a lot of chances, and able to control the game. Like any preseason, we’re still that we’re developing and improving. The team is looking strong.”

Heathwise, the Fire has some concern with a few players going into its opening match at Houston.

“We’re a little banged up,” Berhalter said. “Every preseason has some casualties. That’s why we have a deeper team this year. So we can withstand some of those injuries.”

Looking back on the defense and what keeper Chris Brady sees in front of him through the preseason.

“It’s been a lot of good work so far,”  Brady said. We’ve been really focused building chemistry on the field. Different formations, different concepts. All that we’ve been able to apply over the 3 three games. I feel confident in the group and its skills going into the first game this week.”

As for the communication with the defense, Brady already sees a big difference over last season to now.

“It’s a lot more fluid this year,” Brady said. “Everybody is approachable to everybody on the team. Therr. Everybody knows how to talk to everyone. We’re all getting used to each other’s tendencies. That makes a big difference in the long run.”

Chris Mueller missed all of last year because of a personal health issue. He’s glad to make it back and able to get back on the field.

“It feels great to be back with the team,” Mueller said. “Be around all the things that I feel I took for granted for the entirety of my career. I feel appreciative and grateful for good health. That’s first and foremost. I’m really excited to be out there again. You look past a lot in your career. Now having a whole year away from the game. It’s great to be back.”

Dealing with it all for Mueller, it was a new part of life if he was to come back at all and face the challenge that was ahead of him.

“It was a challenge on a lot of fronts,” Mueller said. “More than physically, it was mentally because it wasn’t something that we could control. It wasn’t anything anybody has dealt with in the past. When it came to the athletic staff. It was just really rare. Then it was a condition that scares you for life. It’s not something like a torn ACL or a hamstring of that nature. For the mental standpoint, it was a challenge on a lot of fronts. But at the same time, I grew a lot in the last year. In the ways I’ve ever grown, if I haven’t gone through something that severe.”

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Mueller has seen what he can do with the team during the preseason, and it’s starting show with his ability playing the game over the years.

“I’ve always been a fairly good positive guy,” Mueller said. “I feel good optimism and energy. I feel the sense of gratitude playing soccer again. I think that’s beneficial to the team. It’s liberative me in a lot of ways. It’s freed me up on the field. When I go out on the field, I have less fear. I feel like I have nothing to lose at this point.”

The Fire kick off their 29th season at Houston Dynamo on Saturday with the home opener the following Saturday against CF Montreal (1:30pm, Apple TV).

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