Chicago Fire host Columbus Crew at Soldier Field on Saturday, November 7 (4:00 PM ET / 3:00 PM CT / 1:00 PM PT).
Chicago Fire have no fresh absences to report ahead of this one, with Maren Haile-Selassie — the club’s top scorer with 12 goals this season — expected to lead the line at Soldier Field alongside Philip Zinckernagel, who has created 69 chances from his own advanced role. Columbus Crew travel with a similarly clean bill of health, meaning Taha Habroune, Brais Méndez and Wessam Abou Ali — each with 5 goals this season — should all feature in an attack that has carried the Crew’s recent run.
Chicago Fire’s attack has carried them to fourth in the East, built on Haile-Selassie’s goal threat and Zinckernagel’s creativity, even after a shaky stretch that included back-to-back defeats to New England Revolution and Philadelphia Union before a win, a draw and most recently a 4-2 victory away at Colorado Rapids steadied things. Columbus Crew arrive on the division’s best form, 5 straight wins lifting them to eighth, but a +6 goal difference against Chicago’s +11 suggests the hosts still carry the greater quality at Soldier Field.
Chicago Fire vs Columbus Crew: Best Bets & Predictions
Fourth-placed Chicago Fire host an in-form Columbus Crew at Soldier Field with Eastern Conference positioning on the line.
Our approach: we weigh underlying output — goals, shots on target and chances created — against conference standings and recent form to land on a single projected scoreline, then build our markets picks around that same read.
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 sit fourth in the Eastern Conference with 55 points from 33 games and a +11 goal difference, firmly in the thick of the playoff picture. Columbus Crew are eighth on 44 points from the same number of matches, +6 goal difference, still working to climb higher in the East before the regular season closes out.
Eastern Conference
| Team | Pos | GP | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago Fire | 4 | 33 | 16 | 7 | 10 | 61 | 50 | +11 | 55 |
| Columbus Crew | 8 | 33 | 13 | 5 | 15 | 55 | 49 | +6 | 44 |
Chicago Fire vs Columbus Crew Confirmed Starting Lineups
Chicago Fire
4-4-2Columbus Crew
3-4-3Potential Match-Winners
- Maren Haile-Selassie (Chicago Fire): Chicago’s talisman leads the way with 12 goals from 61 shots this season, 27 of them on target — the clearest route to goal on either side.
- Philip Zinckernagel (Chicago Fire): His 69 chances created are the highest tally in this preview, and he’s chipped in with 7 goals of his own from 98 shots.
- Taha Habroune (Columbus Crew): Columbus’s most involved attacker has 5 goals and a team-high 50 chances created, the engine behind their 5-game winning run.
Recent Form
Chicago Fire: L L W D W
- 2026-11-01: Colorado Rapids 2-4 Chicago Fire (W, away)
- 2026-10-29: Chicago Fire 2-2 Orlando City (D, home)
- 2026-10-25: Atlanta United 2-3 Chicago Fire (W, away)
- 2026-10-18: New England Revolution 1-0 Chicago Fire (L, away)
- 2026-10-15: Chicago Fire 1-3 Philadelphia Union (L, home)
Chicago’s form reads L L W D W: a 1-3 home defeat to Philadelphia Union, a 1-0 loss at New England Revolution, a 3-2 win at Atlanta United, a 2-2 draw with Orlando City at home, and most recently a 4-2 win away at Colorado Rapids.
Columbus Crew: W W W W W
- 2026-10-31: Columbus Crew 3-0 DC United (W, home)
- 2026-10-29: FC Dallas 0-2 Columbus Crew (W, away)
- 2026-10-24: Columbus Crew 4-2 Toronto FC (W, home)
- 2026-10-18: FC Cincinnati 0-2 Columbus Crew (W, away)
- 2026-10-15: Columbus Crew 3-1 Charlotte FC (W, home)
Columbus have won all 5 outings covered here (W W W W W): a 3-1 home win over Charlotte FC, a 2-0 win away at FC Cincinnati, a 4-2 home win over Toronto FC, a 2-0 win away at FC Dallas, and most recently a 3-0 win over DC United at home.
Chicago Fire vs Columbus Crew Prediction
Backed by the Haile-Selassie and Zinckernagel double act and a +11 goal difference that outstrips Columbus’s +6, Chicago Fire should have enough to get it done at Soldier Field. Columbus’s 5-game winning run and the firepower of Habroune, Méndez and Abou Ali should be good for a goal of their own, but Signal’s model has this finishing 2-1 to the hosts, enough to keep Chicago fourth in the East while Columbus continue their climb from eighth.