Chicago Fire welcome the New York Red Bulls to Soldier Field on Saturday afternoon, with the gap between the two clubs widening fast. Kick-off is Saturday, May 9, at 2:30 PM ET.
The Fire torched Sporting KC 5-0 a fortnight ago, but have since exited the US Open Cup and lost 3-2 at home to FC Cincinnati. They still sit fourth in the Eastern Conference on 17 points and have the league’s hottest striker in the side. The Red Bulls, by contrast, are winless in five, have shipped 11 more goals than they’ve scored, and went down 2-0 at home to FC Dallas in their last outing.
The H2H underlines the gap. Chicago won the last meeting and lead the head-to-head 5-2-3 in the last 10. The bookmakers will price this as a clear home favorite, and the form points the same way.
Best Bets & Predictions: Chicago Fire vs New York Red Bulls
| Our Prediction | Odds & Sportsbook | Confidence | Why We’re Backing It |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago Fire to win | -196 @ bet365 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Chicago have won four of six at home, NYRB are winless in five and have shipped 27 goals already. |
| Hugo Cuypers to score anytime | -125 @ bet365 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Cuypers has 10 goals in seven starts and 17 shots on target — the cleanest forward play in MLS right now. |
| Both Teams to Score: Yes | -187 @ bet365 | ⭐⭐⭐ | Five of last seven NYRB games have produced four or more total goals; both teams have scored in two of Fire’s last three. |
| Over 2.5 goals | -225 @ bet365 | ⭐⭐⭐ | NYRB’s defense is one of the worst-leaking in the East. Cuypers is averaging more than a goal per start. |
| Correct Score: 2-1 Chicago Fire | +750 @ bet365 | ⭐⭐ | Fits the Chicago home pattern: a goal of class, a moment of NYRB threat, and the Fire close it out. |
| Julian Hall to score anytime | +260 @ bet365 | ⭐⭐⭐ | Hall has six goals in 11 starts and is the one route NYRB have to a goal. |
Our approach: Start with the Chicago home win, add Cuypers anytime as the parlay leg, and take 2-1 at the bigger price.
Odds correct at the time of writing. Please gamble responsibly.
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Prediction Markets: Live Odds & Win Probability
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Match-specific prediction market pricing for Chicago Fire vs New York Red Bulls from Kalshi and Polymarket are listed below.
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Season Form & Standings
Both clubs sit in the Eastern Conference, but with daylight between them. Chicago are inside the playoff line on 17 points; the Red Bulls sit 10th on 12, with a goal difference that is the worst of any club in the East not in the bottom two.
| Eastern Conference | Pos | GP | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago Fire | 4 | 10 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 19 | 11 | +8 | 17 |
| New York Red Bulls | 10 | 11 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 16 | 27 | -11 | 12 |
Up-to-date MLS standings and the MLS stats hub have the goal and shot leaderboards for both sides.
Potential Match-Winners
- Hugo Cuypers (Chicago Fire): 10 goals in seven starts and 17 shots on target — the league’s most efficient striker over the last two months. Only the keeper and a flag have stopped him.
- Philip Zinckernagel (Chicago Fire): Four goals, three assists, and 10 shots on target in 10 starts. The senior creative voice and Cuypers’s main supplier.
- Jonathan Bamba (Chicago Fire): Two goals, two assists, and three big chances created in seven appearances. Fast feet down the left in a fixture where NYRB’s right side is exposed.
- Julian Hall (New York Red Bulls): Six goals and two assists in 11 starts. The 19-year-old’s nine shots on target are the most of any NYRB player and the most likely route to a goal at Soldier Field.
- Emil Forsberg (New York Red Bulls): One goal and two assists, with three big chances created. The veteran sets the tempo and will need a big game to keep the Red Bulls in this one.
Head-to-Head
Chicago lead the recent record 5-2-3 in the last 10, and have won three of the last five, including a 1-0 home win in July last year. Goals have flowed more often than not, with five of the last 10 producing three or more.
| Date | Score | Competition |
|---|---|---|
| Jul 26, 2025 | Chicago Fire 1-0 New York Red Bulls | MLS |
| Apr 5, 2025 | New York Red Bulls 2-1 Chicago Fire | MLS |
| Sep 14, 2024 | Chicago Fire 2-1 New York Red Bulls | MLS |
| Apr 13, 2024 | New York Red Bulls 0-0 Chicago Fire | MLS |
| Sep 30, 2023 | New York Red Bulls 0-1 Chicago Fire | MLS |
Recent Form
Chicago Fire — W W D W L
- Apr 4: W 1-0 vs Nashville SC (home)
- Apr 11: W 1-0 vs Atlanta United (home)
- Apr 18: D 3-3 at Cincinnati
- Apr 25: W 5-0 vs Sporting KC (home)
- May 2: L 2-3 vs Cincinnati (home)
The Cincinnati loss snapped a four-game unbeaten run but the home form before that was clinical — including the 5-0 hammering of Sporting KC. Cuypers scored three of the five goals.
New York Red Bulls — D L D L L
- Apr 11: D 2-2 at Inter Miami
- Apr 18: L 1-4 at Montréal
- Apr 22: D 4-4 vs DC United (home)
- Apr 25: L 0-2 at Cincinnati
- May 2: L 0-2 vs FC Dallas (home)
Five matches without a win and the last two have been clean-sheet defeats. The defensive shape is the bigger concern — without a clean sheet in nine.
Chicago Fire vs New York Red Bulls Prediction
Soldier Field has been good to the Fire, and Cuypers is in the kind of form where every chance feels priced. NYRB’s leaky defense and lack of a finishing edge make this a clear home pick.
Take Chicago to win at bet365, or browse the bet365 review first. The full weekend slate is on the MLS hub, and the rest of our weekend cards, including Toronto vs Inter Miami, are linked there too.
Odds correct at the time of writing. Please gamble responsibly.
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