Chicago Fire

vs

Sporting Kansas City

Preview

Chicago Fire

• Chicago Fire are unbeaten in their last 5 games across all competitions (W4, D1).
• Fire sit in 9th place in MLS 2026 with 14 points from eight games.
• Chicago Fire have won 3 of their 4 home games in MLS 2026.

Sporting Kansas City

• Sporting Kansas City have lost their last 5 consecutive games in all competitions.
• SKC have struggled with just 4 points from the same number of games and occupy 29th place.
• SKC’s away form in the same competition is much worse, with Wicky’s men losing 3 of their 4 games on the road and conceding 10 goals.

Head-to-Head

• The two sides have each won one of the last 2 meetings.
• SKC edged a 2-1 victory in their 2024 Leagues Cup encounter.

Key Players

• Berhalter has installed a possession-first style on his side, who will press to win the ball back if the ball goes over the halfway line or into the wide areas.
• Raphaël Wicky has attempted to do something similar at Sporting Kansas City, who like to play through a compact midfield and can do so if the opposition lets them.
• But SKC’s defensive issues have been obvious and they are yet to find the cohesion that Berhalter has been able to build at Fire.
• Hugo Cuypers has been in fine form for Chicago this season with 6 goals in 5 MLS 2026 games, while he has scored 3 goals in their last 5 contests.
• Dejan Joveljic has 4 in 8 for SKC and is easily their most reliable goal scorer, but they lack the quality and cohesion to support the Serbian in the way Berhalter’s side support Cuypers.

Betting Insights

• Backing the home side at 1.38 seems reasonable given the form and momentum they have at the moment.
• The odds of 1.31 on Over 2.5 goals looks too low to get on.
• The odds of 2.35 for Both Teams to Score - No looks worth a bet, as Chicago are capable of a shutout and Kansas City of failing to score.

Prediction

• A home win is almost a certainty in this clash, but a few goals look likely too.
• Prefer: Both Teams to Score - No at 2.35.