How to watch U.S. Open Cup, Chicago Fire II vs. Chicago City; Who are the players to watch?
The U.S. Open Cup is back, but it looks a little different this time. Most MLS first teams are not participating in the competition, and instead, several will be represented by their MLS Next Pro counterparts. That includes Chicago Fire II, who will play in place of the Chicago Fire, and take on local amateur club Chicago City SC.
Here are some players to watch from Fire II, as well as how you can watch the game tonight.
Players to watch
Omari Glasgow
Among the top players in all of MLS Next Pro, Glasgow is someone many Fire fans have had eyes on for a long time. The Guyana international signed ahead of the second team's debut season in 2022 when he was just 18 years old, and has been one of the team's better players consistently for the last two years. Though he trained with the first team from time to time in 2023, Glasgow is now a regular participant in first team sessions, even if he is not officially on the roster. The quick, dynamic winger is already a star for his national team, but his foreign status makes roster registration more difficult; he'll be with the second team for now, but an impressive showing in the Cup could accelerate him towards a future first team contract in MLS.
Dylan Borso
While there's no Brian Gutiérrez or Gaga Slonina in the Fire Academy ready to immediately make a first team jump, Borso seems like a solid bet for the club's next homegrown. The 2006-born central midfielder finally broke into Fire II's plans toward the end of last season, and immediately made an impact, scoring his first professional goal and starting in the team's playoff game. He also made an instant impact at the start of this season, recording a beautiful assist to Glasgow in Fire II's MLS Next Pro opener last weekend. The Wake Forest commit could play an important role against City tonight.
Harold Osorio
A senior El Salvador international at 20, Osorio is an extremely talented midfielder who should prove a difference-maker for the second team in the Open Cup. As a technically gifted player who has, at times, trained with the Fire first team, Osorio has caught the eye of many back in his homeland as he was a part of the CONCACAF Gold Cup last year whilst playing with Fire II. Injuries have limited his involvement in MLS Next Pro at times, but he notched a goal and five assists from just eight starts in 2023 and was one of the Fire's top players in the first game of 2024 last week.
Patrick Los
The Chicago area is known in American soccer for producing a high quantity of top goalkeepers, with Gaga Slonina, Chris Brady, Roman Celentano, Damian Las, and Brad Guzan just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to naming some. Los could be next in line, as he could be in line to start for Fire II in the Open Cup. The 16-year-old talent got the nod in Fire II's MLS Next Pro win on Sunday ahead of SuperDraft pick and fellow Fire Academy product Bryan Dowd, so there's reason to suggest a similar decision could be made against City. Los is a U.S. youth international who, alongside fellow 2007 keeper Patryk Stechnij, may represent the future of the Fire goalkeeping position.
Jason Shokalook
Shokalook was selected out of Akron in the second round of the SuperDraft and signed an MLS Next Pro contract earlier this year. He was someone that the Fire really wanted from the draft, and they parted ways with $50,000 in GAM to get another pick to take him. Though he was fairly anonymous as a center forward in his Fire II debut against FC Cincinnati 2 last weekend, the club has faith in him as someone who could eventually be a first team contributor in the future, so expect him to get another opportunity in the Open Cup tonight.
How to watch the game
U.S. Open Cup matches will be streamed on U.S. Soccer's website, linked here. The match will also be free admission for fans, and will kick off at 7:00 p.m. at Bridgeview.
