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

The next New York Red Bulls match in the 2026 Major League Soccer season sees them host Chicago Fire in a key Eastern Conference clash. The fixture is scheduled for 22 August 2026 with kick-off at 23:30 UTC at Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison. This New York Red Bulls vs Chicago Fire preview looks at kick-off time, venue, standings, form, head to head and prediction for this Regular Season - 21 encounter.

New York Red Bulls come into this game sitting 8th in the Eastern Conference, chasing consistency and crucial points in the push for the MLS Play Offs 1/16-finals. Chicago Fire arrive in Harrison in a stronger position, currently 3rd in the Eastern Conference and tracking towards the MLS Play Offs 1/8-finals. With both sides fighting for playoff seeding, fans asking when New York Red Bulls play next can expect a high-stakes conference matchup under the lights in New Jersey.

Match details: date, kick-off & venue

Competition: Major League Soccer, Regular Season - 21
Date / Kick-off: 22 August 2026, 23:30 UTC
Venue: Sports Illustrated Stadium, Harrison
Status: Not Started (Fixture has not started yet)

Standings & form

New York Red Bulls enter 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 a goal difference of -12 after scoring 30 and conceding 42. At home, the Red Bulls have played 10 times, recording 4 wins, 2 draws and 4 losses, scoring 16 and conceding 19. Away from home they have 3 wins, 2 draws and 5 defeats, with 14 goals for and 23 against. Their recent league form is mixed, shown by the sequence LLWLL, underlining the need for a response in front of their own fans.

Chicago Fire travel to Harrison in a stronger league position. They are currently 3rd in the Eastern Conference on 35 points from 19 matches, boasting an impressive record of 11 wins, 2 draws and 6 losses. They have scored 36 goals and conceded 25, for a goal difference of +11. At Soldier Field, Chicago have been strong with 7 wins and 3 defeats from 10 home games, scoring 20 and conceding 11. On the road, they have played 9 times, registering 4 wins, 2 draws and 3 losses, with 16 goals scored and 14 conceded. Their current form string of WWWLL shows a recent winning run followed by back-to-back defeats, making this trip an important test of their ability to bounce back.

From the broader season statistics, New York Red Bulls have managed just 1 clean sheet in 20 league fixtures and have failed to score 5 times, highlighting some defensive and attacking inconsistency. Chicago Fire, by contrast, have kept 6 clean sheets in 19 matches and failed to score only once, underlining a more balanced and reliable campaign so far. Discipline could be significant too, with both teams accumulating yellow and red cards across matches, while Chicago have also been active from the spot, taking 6 penalties and converting 4.

Head-to-head

09 May 2026: Chicago Fire 1–3 New York Red Bulls (Major League Soccer)
27 July 2025: Chicago Fire 1–0 New York Red Bulls (Major League Soccer)
05 April 2025: New York Red Bulls 2–1 Chicago Fire (Major League Soccer)
15 September 2024: Chicago Fire 2–1 New York Red Bulls (Major League Soccer)
13 April 2024: New York Red Bulls 0–0 Chicago Fire (Major League Soccer)
27 January 2024: Chicago Fire 2–2 New York Red Bulls (Friendlies Clubs)
30 September 2023: New York Red Bulls 0–1 Chicago Fire (Major League Soccer)
30 April 2023: Chicago Fire 1–1 New York Red Bulls (Major League Soccer)
18 May 2022: New York Red Bulls 3–3 Chicago Fire (Major League Soccer)
01 May 2022: Chicago Fire 1–2 New York Red Bulls (Major League Soccer)

The head-to-head record between New York Red Bulls and Chicago Fire in recent seasons has been tightly contested, with both teams enjoying wins home and away. Notably, the most recent league meeting on 9 May 2026 ended in a 3–1 away victory for New York at Soldier Field, while Chicago have also claimed narrow home wins, including 1–0 in July 2025 and 2–1 in September 2024. Draws have also featured prominently, such as the 0–0 at Red Bull Arena in April 2024 and high-scoring 3–3 and 2–2 encounters in 2022 and in Friendlies Clubs. The pattern suggests that this rivalry regularly produces close, competitive fixtures.

Team news & absences

For New York Red Bulls, goalkeeper A. Marcucci is listed as Missing Fixture with a Knee Injury. Attacker R. Mosquera is marked as Questionable due to a Thigh Injury, making his involvement uncertain for this clash.

Chicago Fire will be without several players. Defender 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 attacker C. Mueller is unavailable, listed as Missing Fixture and Inactive. Defender S. Oregel is another absence for Chicago, out as Missing Fixture with a Lower-Body Injury. These injuries could test Chicago’s depth, particularly in defensive areas and wide attacking positions.

Key players to watch

H. Cuypers (Chicago Fire) — A major attacking threat with 13 goals in the 2026 MLS season, leading the scoring charts for this fixture and offering a constant goal presence for the visitors.
J. Hall (New York Red Bulls) — The key forward for the hosts, contributing 9 goals and 3 assists in 20 appearances, central to New York’s attacking output.
P. Zinckernagel (Chicago Fire) — A creative force in midfield with 5 goals and 7 assists, providing both scoring and playmaking quality for Chicago Fire.

Prediction

The prediction model leans slightly towards the visitors in this New York Red Bulls vs Chicago Fire prediction. The advice is a “Double chance: draw or Chicago Fire”, reflecting confidence that Chicago can avoid defeat on the road. The percentages suggest just 10% chance for a home win, with both the draw and an away victory rated at 45% each.

With Chicago Fire higher in the Eastern Conference standings and showing stronger season-long form, they are viewed as favourites to take at least a point. However, New York Red Bulls’ recent 3–1 win in Chicago and home advantage at Sports Illustrated Stadium mean this could still be a tight and competitive Eastern Conference matchup.