Sporting Kansas City vs Chicago Fire FC, MLS 2026 REGULAR SEASON
Overview
Match Preview
Sporting Kansas City vs Chicago Fire FC — MLS at Children's Mercy Park.
- Sporting Kansas City 18 games · 14 pts (2026/26)
- Chicago Fire FC 17 games · 29 pts (2026/26)
Match Details
- Referee M. de Oliveira
- Referee Brian Poeschel
- Referee Jorge Gonzalez
- Referee Cory Richardson
- Referee Ismir Pekmic
5 games this season
🟨 2.0/game
⚽ 8.6 goals/game
Standings
| # | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nashville SC | 18 | 40 |
| 2 | Internacional CF Miami | 18 | 38 |
| 3 | New England Revolution | 18 | 30 |
| 4 | Chicago Fire FC | 17 | 29 |
| 5 | New York City FC | 18 | 26 |
| 6 | FC Cincinnati | 18 | 26 |
| 7 | Charlotte FC | 18 | 25 |
| 8 | New York Red Bulls | 18 | 25 |
| 9 | D.C. United SC | 18 | 23 |
| 10 | Columbus Crew SC | 18 | 20 |
| 11 | Orlando City SC | 18 | 20 |
| 12 | Toronto FC | 18 | 17 |
| 13 | Philadelphia Union | 18 | 16 |
| 14 | Montreal Impact FC | 18 | 16 |
| 15 | Atlanta United FC | 18 | 12 |
| 16 | Vancouver Whitecaps FC | 17 | 34 |
| 17 | Los Angeles FC | 19 | 34 |
| 18 | San Jose Earthquakes | 18 | 33 |
| 19 | Houston Dynamo | 18 | 32 |
| 20 | FC Dallas | 18 | 27 |
| 21 | Real Salt Lake | 17 | 27 |
| 22 | St. Louis City | 18 | 26 |
| 23 | Portland Timbers | 18 | 24 |
| 24 | Seattle Sounders FC | 17 | 24 |
| 25 | Minnesota United FC | 18 | 24 |
| 26 | Colorado Rapids SC | 18 | 22 |
| 27 | Los Angeles Galaxy | 19 | 22 |
| 28 | San Diego FC | 18 | 21 |
| 29 | Austin FC | 18 | 17 |
| 30 | Sporting Kansas City | 18 | 14 |
Head-to-Head
Recent Form
| Date | Opponent | H/A | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 08 Oct | Chicago Fire FC | H | 1–0 | W |
| 04 Oct | Houston Dynamo | A | 2–1 | W |
| 23 Sep | Orlando City SC | H | 1–2 | L |
| 19 Sep | FC Dallas | H | 2–3 | L |
| 14 Sep | Minnesota United FC | H | 1–0 | W |
| 06 Sep | Houston Dynamo | A | 1–2 | L |
| Date | Opponent | H/A | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 08 Oct | Sporting Kansas City | A | 0–1 | L |
| 03 Oct | Montreal Impact FC | A | 2–2 | D |
| 27 Sep | Atlanta United FC | H | 2–0 | W |
| 23 Sep | Houston Dynamo | H | 4–0 | W |
| 19 Sep | Orlando City SC | A | 1–4 | L |
| 12 Sep | Columbus Crew SC | H | 2–2 | D |
Season Stats
| Sporting Kansas City | Chicago Fire FC | |
|---|---|---|
| #30 | Position | #4 |
| 14 | Points | 29 |
| 18 | Played | 17 |
| 4 / 2 / 12 | W / D / L | 9 / 2 / 6 |
| 18 | Scored | 32 |
| 46 | Conceded | 23 |
| -28 | GD | +9 |
| 0.78 | PPG | 1.71 |
| 22% | Win % | 53% |
Key Stats
38%
Both Teams to Score
H2H (8 games)
H2H (8 games)
50%
Over 2.5 Goals
H2H history
H2H history
0%
Clean Sheets
Sporting Kansas City this season
Sporting Kansas City this season
41%
Clean Sheets
Chicago Fire FC this season
Chicago Fire FC this season
Sporting Kansas City are 30th (14 pts). Chicago Fire FC are 4th (29 pts).
Goal Timing (This Season)
Sporting Kansas City
0-15
–/7
16-30
3/4
31-45
3/6
46-60
2/4
61-75
2/8
76+
3/7
■ Scored ■ Conceded
Chicago Fire FC
0-15
3/1
16-30
7/4
31-45
1/5
46-60
2/2
61-75
6/–
76+
2/4
■ Scored ■ Conceded
Top Scorers (This Season)
Sporting Kansas City
| Dejan Joveljic | 8 G | 1 A |
Chicago Fire FC
| Hugo Cuypers | 11 G | |
| Philip Zinckernagel | 5 G | 4 A |
Events
Match Events
- 0' Welcome to Children's Mercy Park that hosts another battle between Sporting Kansas City and Chicago Fire FC.
- 1' The referee calls foul for Tim Melia. He receives a Yellow card.
- 6' Chicago Fire FC fans have not had much to celebrate tonight. Their side is struggling to get forward.
- 11' We are waiting for someone to take the initiative. Who will be the first to commit to attack?
- 16' Spectators do not have much to choose from both teams. The sides had several scoring chances but they still need a bit more than just a sight of a goal.
- 19' That is a Yellow card for Chicago Fire FC. Francisco Calvo will be fuming at that decision.
- 21' Another change for Sporting Kansas City made on 21 minute. Graham Zusi leaves to be changed by Jaylin Lindsey.
- 24' That is a Yellow card for Sporting Kansas City. Roger Espinoza will be fuming at that decision.
- 29' The 39-year-old Roger Espinoza has been sensational this season — 0 goals and 0 assists is a remarkable return.
- 34' The Array continues to deliver drama. Both Sporting Kansas City and Chicago Fire FC are desperate not to drop points on matchday .
- 39' The travelling Chicago Fire FC supporters hardly appreciate their team being pressed down to the backline.
- 44' Mike Azira, a Uganda , has 0 bookings this season and will need to keep his discipline tonight.
- 46' The Sporting Kansas City manager makes a substitution. Roger Espinoza departs to be replaced by Daniel Salloi.
- 51' Sporting Kansas City are enjoying more possession but struggling to find a way through a disciplined Chicago Fire FC backline.
- 56' Chicago Fire FC is defending very well tonight not leaving a chance for their rivals to get through for a goal.
- 58' Boris Sekulic picks up a Yellow card and will need to be extremely careful for the remainder of this match.
- 58' Fresh legs for Chicago Fire FC! Przemyslaw Frankowski comes on to replace Fabian Herbers.
- 62' The referee calls foul for Winston Reid. He receives a Yellow card.
- 67' What a moment for Winston Reid! That strike on 67 puts his side firmly in control.
- 69' Felipe Hernandez gets the nod from Sporting Kansas City. He replaces Gianluca Busio and will look to change the dynamic.
- 73' The whistle greets Boris Sekulic as he departs to be replaced by C.J. Sapong.
- 77' That looks like a foul for a Yellow card for Johnny Russell.
- 79' Mike Azira gets the nod from Chicago Fire FC. He replaces Djordje Mihailovic and will look to change the dynamic.
- 80' The referee shows Sporting Kansas City player a Yellow card on 80.
- 85' Graham Zusi has been disciplined this evening — perhaps mindful of those 0 cards already picked up this season.
- 87' The Sporting Kansas City manager makes a substitution. Johnny Russell departs to be replaced by Erik Hurtado.
- The final score is 1-0.
Lineups
Sporting Kansas City Lineups
Starting XI
- 22
-
7
Johnny Russell C ↓ Erik Hurtado 87'
-
8
Graham Zusi ↓ Jaylin Lindsey 21'
- 29
- 6
- 27
-
15
Roger Espinoza ↓ Daniel Salloi 46'
- 11
- 4
- 17
- 13
Bench
- 3
- 12
-
20
Daniel Salloi ↑ 46'
-
26
Jaylin Lindsey ↑ 21'
- 16
-
21
Felipe Hernandez ↑ 69'
-
19
Erik Hurtado ↑ 87'
- 28
- 24
Coach
Peter Vermes
Chicago Fire FC Lineups
Starting XI
- 27
- 10
- 21
- 5
- 13
-
14
Djordje Mihailovic ↓ Mike Azira 79'
- 1
- 7
-
2
Boris Sekulic ↓ C.J. Sapong 73'
- 3
- 22
Bench
- 24
-
9
C.J. Sapong ↑ 73'
-
11
Przemyslaw Frankowski ↑ 58'
-
4
Johan Kappelhof ↑ 73'
-
16
Mike Azira ↑ 79'
- 20
-
28
Elliot Collier ↑ 79'
- 36
- 40
Coach
Raphaël Wicky
H2H
H2H Top Scorers
| Player | Goals |
|---|---|
| Hugo Cuypers | 2 |
| Nemanja Nikolics | 2 |
| Felipe Gutierrez | 2 |
| Xherdan Shaqiri | 2 |
| Nemanja Nikolics | 2 |
| Kacper Przybylko | 2 |
| Johnny Russell | 2 |
| Philip Zinckernagel | 2 |
Head to Head
Sporting Kansas City Form
2020-10-08
Sporting Kansas City
1–0
Chicago Fire FC
W
2020-10-04
Houston Dynamo
1–2
Sporting Kansas City
W
2020-09-23
Sporting Kansas City
1–2
Orlando City SC
L
2020-09-19
Sporting Kansas City
2–3
FC Dallas
L
2020-09-14
Sporting Kansas City
1–0
Minnesota United FC
W
2020-09-06
Houston Dynamo
2–1
Sporting Kansas City
L
Chicago Fire FC Form
2020-10-08
Sporting Kansas City
1–0
Chicago Fire FC
L
2020-10-03
Montreal Impact FC
2–2
Chicago Fire FC
D
2020-09-27
Chicago Fire FC
2–0
Atlanta United FC
W
2020-09-23
Chicago Fire FC
4–0
Houston Dynamo
W
2020-09-19
Orlando City SC
4–1
Chicago Fire FC
L
2020-09-12
Chicago Fire FC
2–2
Columbus Crew SC
D
Predictions
Prediction accuracy
1 / 4
1.41
Sporting Kansas City xG
Expected Goals
Dixon-Coles · Bivariate Poisson · Neg. Binomial · Elo
1.97
Chicago Fire FC xG
I would bet for:
Sporting Kansas City or Chicago Fire FC 77% + Both teams to score 65%
Match Result
✗ WrongActual: Sporting Kansas City win
Both Teams to Score
✗ Wrong
Avg goals/match: 3.38
Actual: No — clean sheet
Over / Under Goals
✗ O/U 2.5| Line | Over | Under | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ± 0.5 | 95% |
|
5% |
| ± 1.5 | 85% |
|
15% |
| ± 2.5 | 64% |
|
36% |
| ± 3.5 | 43% |
|
57% |
| ± 4.5 | 25% |
|
75% |
Double Chance
Sporting Kansas City or Draw
59%
Draw or Chicago Fire FC
64%
Sporting Kansas City or Chicago Fire FC
77%
Half-Time Result
✓ CorrectActual: Draw at HT
Correct Score
✓ In top 12
1 – 1
10.3%
1 – 2
9%
0 – 2
6.6%
2 – 1
6.4%
2 – 2
6.3%
0 – 1
6.1%
1 – 3
5.9%
0 – 0
4.9%
0 – 3
4.3%
2 – 3
4.2%
1 – 0
Actual
2 – 0
3.4%
Asian Handicap — Sporting Kansas City
| Handicap | Sporting Kansas City covers | Push | Chicago Fire FC covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| -2.5 | 4% | — | 96% |
| -2 | 4% | 8% | 88% |
| -1.5 | 12% | — | 88% |
| -1 | 12% | 14% | 73% |
| -0.5 | 27% | — | 73% |
| +0.5 | 51% | — | 49% |
| +1 | 51% | 20% | 29% |
| +1.5 | 71% | — | 29% |
| +2 | 71% | 15% | 14% |
| +2.5 | 86% | — | 14% |
Clean Sheet
Sporting Kansas City keeps clean sheet
15%
✗
Chicago Fire FC keeps clean sheet
25%
✓
Predictions are statistical estimates based on season form, H2H history, and a Poisson model. Not financial advice.