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Seattle Sounders vs Chicago Fire preview: match kick-off and prediction

The next Seattle Sounders match sees them host Chicago Fire at Lumen Field in a Major League Soccer Regular Season - 22 fixture. The game is scheduled to kick off on 2026-08-29T20:30:00Z, giving home fans in Seattle another chance to see their side try to turn around a difficult run of form. This Seattle Sounders vs Chicago Fire preview looks at kick-off time, venue, standings, form, head to head and a data-led prediction.

When Seattle Sounders play next, they will be up against a Chicago Fire side pushing near the top of the Eastern Conference. With Seattle currently sitting in the lower half of the Western Conference table and Chicago well placed in the East, this cross-conference clash matters for both playoff hopes and momentum heading into the final stretch of the 2026 MLS season.

Match details: date, kick-off & venue

  • Competition: Major League Soccer, Regular Season - 22
  • Date / Kick-off: 2026-08-29T20:30:00Z
  • Venue: Lumen Field, Seattle
  • Status: Not Started (Fixture has not started yet)

Standings & form

Seattle Sounders come into this fixture 13th in the Western Conference on 25 points. They have played 20 league matches, with a record of 7 wins, 4 draws and 9 losses, scoring 22 and conceding 27 for a goal difference of -5. At Lumen Field, Seattle’s home record shows 4 wins, 1 draw and 4 defeats from 9 games, with 14 goals for and 16 against. Their recent form is worrying, with a five-game sequence of DLLLL, underlining the pressure on the hosts to respond.

Chicago Fire travel to the Pacific Northwest in strong shape. They are 3rd in the Eastern Conference with 36 points from 20 matches, having recorded 11 wins, 3 draws and 6 losses. Chicago have scored 37 goals and conceded 26, for a positive goal difference of +11. Away from home, they have been competitive, with 4 wins, 3 draws and 3 defeats, scoring 17 and conceding 15 on their travels. Their form line of DWWWL shows three wins and a draw in their last five, despite a setback in the most recent outing.

Beyond the table, season statistics highlight some key trends. Seattle have managed 5 clean sheets so far (1 at home, 4 away) but have also failed to score in 5 matches. Chicago, by contrast, have kept 6 clean sheets (4 at home, 2 away) and have only failed to score once all season, underlining their attacking consistency. From the spot, Seattle have converted 2 out of 2 penalties, while Chicago have taken 6 penalties, scoring 4 and missing 2.

Head-to-head

  • 2024-06-30T02:30:00Z: Seattle Sounders 2–1 Chicago Fire (Major League Soccer)
  • 2022-07-17T00:00:00Z: Chicago Fire 1–0 Seattle Sounders (Major League Soccer)
  • 2020-07-14T13:00:00Z: Chicago Fire 2–1 Seattle Sounders (Major League Soccer)
  • 2020-03-01T20:00:00Z: Seattle Sounders 2–1 Chicago Fire (Major League Soccer)
  • 2019-03-16T17:00:00Z: Chicago Fire 2–4 Seattle Sounders (Major League Soccer)
  • 2018-06-24T02:00:00Z: Seattle Sounders 1–1 Chicago Fire (Major League Soccer)
  • 2017-05-14T01:00:00Z: Chicago Fire 4–1 Seattle Sounders (Major League Soccer)
  • 2016-09-29T02:30:00Z: Seattle Sounders 1–0 Chicago Fire (Major League Soccer)
  • 2015-07-12T00:30:00Z: Chicago Fire 1–0 Seattle Sounders (Major League Soccer)
  • 2014-08-14T02:30:00Z: Seattle Sounders 6–0 Chicago Fire (US Open Cup)

The head-to-head record between Seattle Sounders and Chicago Fire has produced several tight contests and some big scorelines. Recent meetings in MLS at Lumen Field have often gone Seattle’s way, including a 2–1 home win in June 2024 and another 2–1 success in March 2020. Chicago, however, have enjoyed their own strong results at home, notably a 4–1 victory in 2017. The standout result in the list is Seattle’s emphatic 6–0 win in the 2014 US Open Cup, showing that this fixture can occasionally open up dramatically.

Team news & absences

Seattle Sounders face this match with a lengthy list of absentees. The home side will be without P. Arriola (Calf Injury), H. Dotson (Muscle Injury), J. Ferreira (Injury), Y. Gomez Andrade (Muscle Injury), P. Kingston (Yellow Cards), J. Morris (Muscle Injury), N. Petkovic (Knee Injury), J. Ragen (Knee Injury) and P. de La Vega (Calf Injury). In addition, X. Gnaulati is listed as Questionable with an Injury concern.

Chicago Fire also have a few notable absences. They will be missing A. Franco (Knee Injury), M. Mbokazi (Lower-Body Injury) and C. Mueller (Inactive) for this fixture. These team news and injuries updates could significantly shape line-up decisions on both sides.

Key players to watch

  • H. Cuypers (Chicago Fire) — 13 goals in 11 appearances make him a major attacking threat leading the Fire front line.
  • P. Zinckernagel (Chicago Fire) — A creative midfielder with 5 goals and 7 assists, central to Chicago’s chance creation.
  • A. Rusnák (Seattle Sounders) — With 3 goals and 6 assists, he is a key source of end product for Seattle in the final third.

Prediction

The data-led Seattle Sounders vs Chicago Fire prediction leans towards the visitors avoiding defeat. The prediction model gives Seattle just 10% chance of a home win, with both the draw and an away victory rated at 45% each. The advised tip is a “Double chance: draw or Chicago Fire”, reflecting Chicago’s stronger league position, better recent form and more consistent attacking output. While Seattle’s home advantage at Lumen Field and their positive history in several head-to-head meetings keep them in the contest, the numbers suggest Chicago Fire are more likely to come away with at least a point.

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