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New York Red Bulls vs Chicago Fire preview: match details & prediction

The next New York Red Bulls match is a home clash against Chicago Fire in the Major League Soccer 2026 Regular Season - 21. This New York Red Bulls vs Chicago Fire preview looks ahead to their Eastern Conference meeting at Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, with kick-off scheduled for 2026-08-22T23:30:00Z. The fixture status is listed as Not Started, so fans can plan around the confirmed date and time.

When New York Red Bulls play next, they will be trying to close the gap on a Chicago Fire side that sits higher in the Eastern Conference standings. Red Bulls are currently in the play-off mix but come into this game off a difficult run of form, while Chicago arrive as one of the stronger teams in the conference so far. With both sides chasing MLS play-off positions, this matchup carries significant weight in the mid-season standings and offers another chapter in a competitive recent rivalry.

Match details: date, kick-off & venue

  • Competition: Major League Soccer, Regular Season - 21
  • Date / Kick-off: 2026-08-22T23:30:00Z
  • Venue: Sports Illustrated Stadium, Harrison
  • Status: Not Started (Fixture has not started yet)

Standings & form

New York Red Bulls come into this fixture ranked 8th in the Eastern Conference with 25 points from 20 matches. Their overall record stands at 7 wins, 4 draws and 9 defeats, with 30 goals scored and 42 conceded, giving a goal difference of -12. At home, Red Bulls have played 10 times, winning 4, drawing 2 and losing 4, with a home goal tally of 16 for and 19 against. Their recent league form is worrying, shown by the sequence LLWLL, indicating three defeats in their last five.

Chicago Fire travel to Harrison in a much stronger position in the same conference. They sit 3rd in the Eastern Conference on 35 points from 19 matches. Fire have recorded 11 wins, 2 draws and 6 losses, scoring 36 goals and conceding 25 for a goal difference of +11. Away from home, they have played 9 times, with 4 wins, 2 draws and 3 defeats, scoring 16 and conceding 14. Their form string of WWWLL shows a strong run of three straight victories followed by back-to-back losses, underlining their high ceiling but also some recent inconsistency.

From the broader season statistics, New York Red Bulls have managed only 1 clean sheet across their 20 league fixtures and have failed to score 5 times, highlighting some defensive and attacking challenges. Chicago Fire, by contrast, have kept 6 clean sheets in 19 matches and have failed to score just once, pointing to a more balanced and reliable side at both ends of the pitch. Discipline could be worth monitoring too, with both teams accumulating notable yellow-card totals across matches.

Head-to-head

  • 2026-05-09T18:30:00Z: Chicago Fire 1–3 New York Red Bulls (Major League Soccer)
  • 2025-07-27T00:30:00Z: Chicago Fire 1–0 New York Red Bulls (Major League Soccer)
  • 2025-04-05T23:30:00Z: New York Red Bulls 2–1 Chicago Fire (Major League Soccer)
  • 2024-09-15T00:30:00Z: Chicago Fire 2–1 New York Red Bulls (Major League Soccer)
  • 2024-04-13T23:30:00Z: New York Red Bulls 0–0 Chicago Fire (Major League Soccer)
  • 2024-01-27T00:00:00Z: Chicago Fire 2–2 New York Red Bulls (Friendlies Clubs)
  • 2023-09-30T23:30:00Z: New York Red Bulls 0–1 Chicago Fire (Major League Soccer)
  • 2023-04-30T00:30:00Z: Chicago Fire 1–1 New York Red Bulls (Major League Soccer)
  • 2022-05-18T23:30:00Z: New York Red Bulls 3–3 Chicago Fire (Major League Soccer)
  • 2022-05-01T00:00:00Z: Chicago Fire 1–2 New York Red Bulls (Major League Soccer)

The head-to-head record between New York Red Bulls and Chicago Fire has been tightly contested in recent seasons, with both teams enjoying wins home and away. The most recent league encounter on 2026-05-09 saw Red Bulls claim a 3–1 victory at Soldier Field, underlining their ability to get results on the road. However, Chicago have also secured narrow home wins, such as 1–0 in 2025 and 2–1 in 2024, while meetings in Harrison have produced everything from a 2–1 Red Bulls win in 2025 to high-scoring draws like 3–3 in 2022. Overall, the pattern suggests there is little to separate the sides when they meet, often producing close and entertaining contests.

Team news & absences

For New York Red Bulls, goalkeeper A. Marcucci is listed as Missing Fixture due to a Knee Injury. Attacker R. Mosquera is marked as Questionable with a Thigh Injury, so his availability will be subject to late assessment.

Chicago Fire have several confirmed absentees. Defender or midfielder A. Franco is ruled out as Missing Fixture with a Knee Injury. M. Mbokazi is also Missing Fixture because of a Lower-Body Injury, while winger C. Mueller is listed as Missing Fixture and Inactive. In addition, S. Oregel will miss the game with a Lower-Body Injury. These absences could test Chicago’s squad depth, particularly in wide and defensive areas.

Key players to watch

  • H. Cuypers (Chicago Fire) — 13 goals and 0 assists in MLS 2026 underline his status as one of the league’s most dangerous attackers. His finishing and volume of shots (34 total, 22 on target) make him a constant threat in and around the box.
  • J. Hall (New York Red Bulls) — With 9 goals and 3 assists from 20 appearances, Hall has been Red Bulls’ main attacking outlet. His combination of goal threat and creativity (15 key passes) will be vital if the hosts are to break down Chicago’s defence.
  • P. Zinckernagel (Chicago Fire) — A creative hub with 5 goals and 7 assists, Zinckernagel’s delivery and vision (40 key passes) provide the service that fuels Chicago’s attack. His set-piece quality and link play between midfield and attack could be decisive.

Prediction

The data-driven New York Red Bulls vs Chicago Fire prediction model leans towards the visitors avoiding defeat. The forecast gives Chicago Fire a 45% chance of victory, with a 45% probability of a draw and only 10% for a home win. The advice is a clear “Double chance: draw or Chicago Fire”, reflecting Chicago’s stronger overall season, better clean-sheet record and superior recent form metrics.

While Red Bulls have home advantage and a recent 3–1 away win over Chicago in May 2026 to draw confidence from, the statistical edge and league standings position both favour the visitors. Fans can therefore expect a competitive encounter in Harrison, with Chicago Fire marginally better placed to come away with at least a point.

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