Chicago Fire Advance to Face Philadelphia Union In MLS Playoffs

The Chicago Fire’s record-breaking season is set to continue. Because of the team’s 3-1 victory over Orlando City SC at SeatGeek Stadium, giving the team their first postseason win since 2009 after their first postseason game in eight years, the team will advance to face the Supporters Shield-winning Philadelphia Union in the first round proper.

The Union will likely be a sterner test than Orlando for the Fire, who dropped all six points to Philadelphia in their two meetings in the regular season. At Soldier Field on June 25th, the Fire dropped a 1-0 loss decision in which the Fire had a claim to have outplayed the Union for stretches. On August 23 at Philadelphia, however, the Union had a decisive 4-0 victory in the only game in which the Fire failed to score in the back half of their regular season.

Still, there is reason for optimism amongst Fire fans: In each of the two previous years since MLS adopted the current playoff format, a team has gone on from the wildcard to beat the top-ranked opponent in their conference. Last year, Atlanta United advanced out of the wildcard round to take out Shield-winning Inter Miami in three games.

The previous year, however, may be of more solace to Fire fans. In 2023, eighth place Sporting Kansas City handed Bradley Carnell’s top-ranked St. Louis City SC two straight playoff defeats, ending their promising season. Carnell is now in his first year coaching the Philadelphia Union. That leaves Carnell still searching for his first victory in the MLS playoffs in his third year as a head coach in the league.

The first game of the series is set for Subaru Park this Sunday, with kickoff scheduled for 5:30 PM CT. Regardless of the result in Chester, Pennsylvania, the Fire will host the Union on Saturday, November 1st at SeatGeek Stadium as the best-of-three series continues.