Chicago Fire host NYCFC at Soldier Field on Saturday, October 10 (2:30 PM ET / 1:30 PM CT / 11:30 AM PT).
Chicago Fire have no fresh fitness concerns to report and will again lean on their most productive forward line of the season, with Maren Haile-Selassie’s 8 goals and Robert Lewandowski’s 6 setting the attacking tone up top, while Philip Zinckernagel pulls the strings from midfield with 5 goals and 54 chances created in 2047 minutes of work. NYCFC come into Soldier Field with a clean bill of health too, built almost entirely around Nicolás Mercau, whose 15 goals and 51 chances created in 2314 minutes make him the most involved attacker on either team sheet, backed by Axel Ojeda and Hannes Wolf, both on 5 goals apiece.
Chicago Fire are fifth in the East on 42 points from 26 games with a +8 goal difference, firmly in the playoff picture, and head into this one off the back of a 1-0 win at Charlotte. NYCFC sit ninth in the same conference and arrive at Soldier Field on the back of a 2-2 draw at Atlanta, still searching for consistency. With Haile-Selassie and Lewandowski offering more individual firepower than NYCFC can call on outside of Mercau, the home side’s greater depth in the final third should be the difference at Soldier Field.
Chicago Fire vs NYCFC: Best Bets & Predictions
Chicago Fire's playoff push continues at Soldier Field against a NYCFC side still finding consistency.
Our approach: Signal blends club form, position in the standings and underlying player data to set the headline picks below, then layers in goal-scoring stats for the Anytime Goalscorer call.
Odds correct at time of writing and shown in American format for illustration; your local odds may vary. 19+ (18+ in AB/MB/QC). Please play responsibly. ConnexOntario: 1-866-531-2600 (ON).
Season Form & Standings
Chicago Fire are fifth in the East on 42 points from 26 games, while NYCFC sit ninth in the same conference, both still with something to play for in the race for the playoffs.
| Team | Pos | GP | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago Fire | 5 | 26 | 12 | 6 | 8 | 46 | 38 | +8 | 42 |
Chicago Fire vs NYCFC Predicted Lineups
Predicted XI — updated for the latest team news.
Chicago Fire
4-4-2NYCFC
4-2-3-1Potential Match-Winners
- Maren Haile-Selassie (Chicago Fire): His 8 goals from 45 shots, 21 of which have been on target, make him Chicago Fire’s most direct route to goal.
- Philip Zinckernagel (Chicago Fire): 5 goals and a team-high 54 chances created in 2047 minutes underline his influence on Chicago Fire’s build-up play.
- Nicolás Mercau (NYCFC): 15 goals and 51 chances created in 2314 minutes make him the focal point of everything NYCFC create.
Recent Form
Chicago Fire: D D L L W
- 2026-09-27: Charlotte FC 0-1 Chicago Fire (W, away)
- 2026-09-20: Nashville SC 3-0 Chicago Fire (L, away)
- 2026-09-13: Chicago Fire 1-2 New England Revolution (L, home)
- 2026-09-10: Chicago Fire 1-1 Inter Miami (D, home)
- 2026-09-06: Toronto FC 4-4 Chicago Fire (D, away)
Chicago Fire’s last 5 matches read a draw at Toronto (4-4), a home draw with Inter Miami (1-1), a home loss to New England Revolution (1-2), a loss at Nashville (3-0), and a 1-0 win at Charlotte FC.
NYCFC: D L W L D
- 2026-09-27: Atlanta United 2-2 NYCFC (D, away)
- 2026-09-19: NYCFC 0-1 New York Red Bulls (L, home)
- 2026-09-13: Real Salt Lake 0-2 NYCFC (W, away)
- 2026-09-10: NYCFC 1-2 New England Revolution (L, home)
- 2026-09-05: NYCFC 0-0 Nashville SC (D, home)
NYCFC’s run across the same stretch covers a home draw with Nashville (0-0), a home loss to New England Revolution (1-2), a win at Real Salt Lake (2-0), a home loss to New York Red Bulls (0-1), and a 2-2 draw at Atlanta United.
Chicago Fire vs NYCFC Prediction
Expect a tight, competitive watch at Soldier Field that swings Chicago Fire’s way. Chicago Fire are fifth in the East and carrying far more individual firepower up top than a NYCFC side built around one attacking midfielder, so there should be enough in behind to find a route through. Backing Haile-Selassie and Zinckernagel to combine for the goals, Squawka’s pick is a 2-1 win for Chicago Fire, with NYCFC good enough going forward through Mercau to get on the scoresheet of their own.