MLS · Round of 16 Chicago Fire FC vs Charlotte FC: Match Preview & Stats
Our picks
Model predictions are published 48 hours before kick-off
To take in the latest form and rest days, the predictions for this match come out on . (If either team plays another match in between, they come out once that match is over.)
See today's ready predictions →Our record
Chicago Fire FC: 1 of 4 right
Charlotte FC: 3 of 4 right
Our result picks in each club's earlier matches on this site.
Match facts
- Competition
- MLS, Round of 16
- Kick-off
- Local time
- 18:30 (US Eastern time)
- Venue
- SeatGeek Stadium, Bridgeview, Illinois
- Since last match
- Chicago Fire FC: 15 days (MLS) · Columbus Crew (3‑4) Charlotte FC: 15 days (MLS) · Inter Miami CF (3‑3)
- Next match
- Chicago Fire FC: 5 days (MLS) later Charlotte FC: 5 days (MLS) later
Last starting XI
Chicago Fire FC 4-3-3
- 1 Brady
- 24 Dean
- 21 Hanche-Olsen
- 4 Mbokazi
- 32 Allen
- 6 Salétros
- 42 D'Avilla
- 7 Haile-Selassie
- 11 Zinckernagel
- 9 Lewandowski
- 19 Bamba
Coach: Gregg Berhalter 
vs Columbus Crew, 3-4 · MLS · 7 Nov
Charlotte FC 4-3-3
- 1 Kahlina
- 14 Byrne
- 44 Agyemang
- 22 Kessler
- 15 Toffolo
- 28 Diani
- 8 Westwood
- 16 Biel
- 17 de la Torre
- 9 Toklomati
- 11 Abada
Coach: Dean Smith 
at Inter Miami CF, 3-3 · MLS · 7 Nov
Our predicted line-ups come with our picks, 48 hours before kick-off. Until then: each club's last starting XI.
Injuries and suspensions
Chicago Fire FC
- DF Sam RogersInjured · Mid November 2026
- MF Robin LodInjured · Mid November 2026
Charlotte FC
- DF Tim ReamInjured · Mid November 2026
- DF Will ClearyInjured · Mid November 2026
- MF Aron JohnInjured · Early December 2026
- FW Archie GoodwinInjured · Mid November 2026
- – Nimfasha BerchimasInjured · Mid November 2026
Players listed as injured, suspended or away with their national team, with their expected return.
Missing Players Impact
Chicago Fire FC
Low impact Charlotte FC
Moderate impact Share of team playing time and attacking output over the last 10 matches accounted for by unavailable players.
Tactical Profile & Play Quality (0–100)
Chicago Fire FC Charlotte FC Chicago Fire FC Playing above results (positive regression candidate) Charlotte FC Results above play quality (running hot) OptimaGoal 0–100 performance indices built from the last 10 matches before kick-off.
Game-State Scenarios & Goal Timing
Chicago Fire FC
Charlotte FC
Reaction to scoring or conceding first and goal distribution across the last 15 matches.
Key Attacking Threats
Chicago Fire FC
- 1. FW Maren Haile-Selassie 5G · 2ATeam attack 18.0% Team shots 14.0%
- 2. FW Philip Zinckernagel 2G · 1ATeam attack 16.0% Team shots 20.0%
- 3. FW Robert Lewandowski 3G · 2ATeam attack 13.0% Team shots 15.0%
Charlotte FC
- 1. FW Idan Toklomati 7G · 3ATeam attack 18.0% Team shots 14.0%
- 2. MF Pep Biel 2G · 3ATeam attack 14.0% Team shots 10.0%
- 3. FW Allan Saint-Maximin 2G · 2ATeam attack 14.0% Team shots 22.0%
Top available players by share of team attacking production and shot volume over the last 10 matches.
Scoring trends
| Scoring trends | Chicago Fire FC | Charlotte FC |
|---|---|---|
| Over 1.5 goals | 8/10 | 9/10 |
| Over 2.5 goals | 8/10 | 9/10 |
| Over 3.5 goals | 6/10 | 8/10 |
| Both teams scored | 7/10 | 7/10 |
| Clean sheet | 1/10 | 2/10 |
| Failed to score | 2/10 | 1/10 |
| Goals per match (scored / conceded) | 1.9 / 1.9 | 2.4 / 1.8 |
Last 10 matches, all competitions, results after 90 minutes.
Form guide
Chicago Fire FC
- L 3-4 vs Columbus Crew (H) MLS · 7 Nov
- W 4-2 at
Colorado Rapids (A) MLS · 1 Nov - D 2-2 vs
Orlando City (H) MLS · 29 Oct - W 3-2 at
Atlanta United (A) MLS · 24 Oct - L 0-1 at
New England Revolution (A) MLS · 17 Oct
Charlotte FC
- D 3-3 at Inter Miami CF (A) MLS · 7 Nov
- W 4-0 vs Orlando City (H) MLS · 31 Oct
- W 4-0 vs
CF Montréal (H) MLS · 28 Oct - L 2-3 at
Portland Timbers (A) MLS · 25 Oct - D 2-2 at
Philadelphia Union (A) MLS · 17 Oct
Last five competitive matches before kick-off, all competitions, results after 90 minutes.
When the goals come
Chicago Fire FC
- 1-15 minutes: 10 scored, 4 conceded
- 16-30 minutes: 10 scored, 10 conceded
- 31-45 minutes: 8 scored, 11 conceded
- 46-60 minutes: 12 scored, 10 conceded
- 61-75 minutes: 13 scored, 5 conceded
- 76-90 minutes: 11 scored, 14 conceded
Charlotte FC
- 1-15 minutes: 10 scored, 9 conceded
- 16-30 minutes: 11 scored, 8 conceded
- 31-45 minutes: 5 scored, 8 conceded
- 46-60 minutes: 12 scored, 8 conceded
- 61-75 minutes: 13 scored, 8 conceded
- 76-90 minutes: 15 scored, 10 conceded
Goals in each 15-minute period, MLS this season. Stoppage time counts with its half.
Top scorers
Chicago Fire FC
| Player | G | A |
|---|---|---|
| Maren Haile-Selassie | 13 | 6 |
| Hugo Cuypers (2 pens) | 13 | 0 |
| Robert Lewandowski (3 pens) | 9 | 4 |
| Philip Zinckernagel (1 pen) | 7 | 9 |
| Jonathan Bamba | 6 | 3 |
Charlotte FC
| Player | G | A |
|---|---|---|
| Idan Toklomati | 15 | 5 |
| Pep Biel (2 pens) | 13 | 10 |
| Liel Abada (1 pen) | 10 | 5 |
| Rodolfo Aloko | 4 | 2 |
| Ashley Westwood | 3 | 6 |
Goals and assists in the MLS this season.
Corners and yellow cards
Chicago Fire FC Charlotte FC - 4.7 Corners won 4.6
- 4.8 Corners conceded 6.1
- 2.2 Yellow cards 1.8
- 1.9 Opponents' yellow cards 2.3
Per match in the MLS this season. Average per club and match: 5.0 corners, 1.9 yellow cards.
Attack and defence ratings
Chicago Fire FCCharlotte FC0 to 100 against this season's MLS clubs (100 = best). The rating is our model's long-run strength before this match: it uses the last three years and counts recent matches most, so a few results do not move it at once. Under each rating: this season's actual goals per match.
Head-to-head
5Chicago Fire FC wins5Charlotte FC wins10 meetings since 2010, results after 90 minutes.
- 26 Sep 2026 · MLS Charlotte FC 0-1 Chicago Fire FC
- 2 Aug 2026 · MLS Chicago Fire FC 2-1 Charlotte FC
- 29 Jun 2025 · MLS Chicago Fire FC 3-2 Charlotte FC
- 17 May 2025 · MLS Charlotte FC 1-4 Chicago Fire FC
- 2 Oct 2024 · MLS Charlotte FC 4-3 Chicago Fire FC
Table
Eastern
| # | Team | P | W | D | L | Goals | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Nashville SC | 34 | 23 | 8 | 3 | 71:25 | +46 | 77 |
| 2 | Inter Miami CF | 34 | 16 | 12 | 6 | 80:59 | +21 | 60 |
| 3 | New England Revolution | 34 | 18 | 4 | 12 | 55:47 | +8 | 58 |
| 4 | Chicago Fire FC | 34 | 16 | 7 | 11 | 64:54 | +10 | 55 |
| 5 | Charlotte FC | 34 | 15 | 9 | 10 | 66:51 | +15 | 54 |
| 6 | Philadelphia Union | 34 | 14 | 8 | 12 | 66:52 | +14 | 50 |
| 7 | Columbus Crew | 34 | 14 | 5 | 15 | 59:52 | +7 | 47 |
| 8 |  FC Cincinnati | 34 | 12 | 10 | 12 | 67:75 | -8 | 46 |
| 9 | Orlando City | 34 | 13 | 7 | 14 | 63:78 | -15 | 46 |
| 10 |  New York City FC | 34 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 49:45 | +4 | 42 |
| 11 |  Red Bull New York | 34 | 12 | 6 | 16 | 48:62 | -14 | 42 |
| 12 |  Toronto FC | 34 | 9 | 12 | 13 | 52:67 | -15 | 39 |
| 13 | Atlanta United | 34 | 9 | 6 | 19 | 43:60 | -17 | 33 |
| 14 |  DC United | 34 | 7 | 12 | 15 | 39:61 | -22 | 33 |
| 15 | CF Montréal | 34 | 6 | 8 | 20 | 37:69 | -32 | 26 |
Our table from the results; the two clubs of this match are highlighted. Full table
Season projection
MembersWhere these two clubs are projected to finish in the MLS: average points, likely range and chances.
| Club | Pts | Avg pts | Likely | Shield | Play-offs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago Fire FC | 55 | ||||
| Charlotte FC | 54 |
For members
Every club's chance of every place, from our simulated seasons, updated daily.
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Times are UTC.