New York City vs Chicago Fire prediction: teams form analysis, possible lineups on July 26, 2026
MLS USA
In the MLS regular season on July 26, 2026, New York City and Chicago Fire will play a match. The home club needs points to make the playoffs, but their opponent is also strong right now.
New York City vs Chicago Fire: Team News and Expert Analysis
The New York club finished fifth in the conference in 2025 with 56 points. In the playoffs, they managed to get past Charlotte and Philadelphia, but were then defeated by Inter Miami, 1-5. Currently, the team is on the edge of the playoff zone and ended the spring with an exit from the U.S. Open Cup and a loss to Nashville. However, after the championship resumed, they beat Columbus Crew 2-1.
The Illinois team had a slightly worse result last season, with 53 points. This led them to the wildcard round, where they beat Orlando City before losing to Philadelphia. This season, they had a shaky start but won three straight games in May. They also beat Vancouver in the summer, but recently lost to Inter Miami.
Pascale Jansen’s side scores an average of 1.69 goals per match, conceding slightly fewer at 1.38. Their guests have better stats: 1.93 goals scored and 1.27 conceded per game.
Previous Matches: New York City vs Chicago Fire
New York City is unbeaten in nine straight matches against Chicago Fire and has won the last two in a row.
The hosts are favored. However, the visitors have their own strengths, and betting on "both teams to score" (odds – 1.6) could be a good option.
New York City vs Chicago Fire: Key Statistics and Trends
- New York City has lost twice in their last three matches
- 63% of New York City matches end with goals by both teams and the average total goals per match is 3.06
- Chicago Fire won four times in a row before a stumble against the champions
- 60% of Chicago Fire matches end with goals by both teams and the average total goals per match is 3.2
New York City vs Chicago Fire: Possible Starting Lineups
New York City uses a 1-4-2-3-1 formation (possible lineup): Freese – Cavallo, Raul Gustavo, Thiago Martins, Gray – Andres Perea, Truein – Jones, Arnau Farnós, Ojeda – Merkau
Chicago Fire uses a 1-4-4-2 formation (possible lineup): Brady – Gutman, Mbokazi, Elliott, Dean – Haile-Selassie, Pineda, Saletros, Sinkernagel – Capers, Lund
Place a bet on the upcoming match and track the team's performance in the MLS regular season standings
