The Chicago Fire will play in their first postseason match since 2017 on Wednesday evening when they host Orlando City at SeatGeek Stadium in the Eastern Conference Wild Card game.

It’s a massive match for the Chicago Fire, who were fortunate to end up hosting the contest after some chaos on Decision Day.

Chicago will face Orlando City for the third time in 2025, having played to a 0-0 draw after going down a man at Soldier Field before travelling to Orlando and winning 3-1 in late May thanks to three goal contributions from Philip Zinckernagel. 

The Fire will not want to repeat their start from the weekend when they conceded less than a minute after kickoff following a poor touch from Dje D’Avilla at the edge of Chicago’s penalty area.

Chicago’s boss isn’t too concerned about that happening again midweek. 

Story continues below.

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“A slow start is an understatement from last week’s game, right, conceding in the first minute of the game,” Chicago Fire director of football and head coach Gregg Berhalter said. “But, again, everything happens for a reason and we’re in this position for a reason. When I think about the Toronto last kick of the game, when I think about the first kick of the game in New England, we’ve learned from that. And now it’s about applying all these lessons that we’ve learned throughout the season into one game, and hopefully more, this season.

“But for us, I think there’s a certain amount of preparation and analysis that you do, and you share that information with the players, and hopefully we’ll be prepared in a good way.”

Chicago has a locker room full of guys who haven’t played in the MLS postseason, which will create plenty of emotions ahead of kickoff. 

“I think in this case, emotions can be good, right?” Berhalter said. “It can be fuel, and I think that’s the important thing, is understanding that it’s a knockout game that we’re playing in. 

“We’ve earned the right to play in this game and use everything you got, use your emotion as fuel because we know it’s going to be a difficult game and we know that on Wednesday night [at] 9:30, 9:45 one team’s going to be finished and we don’t want that to be us.”

Chicago Fire starting goalkeeper Chris Brady, 21, is one of those players who will be playing in their first MLS postseason contest. The Homegrown ‘keeper knows how important it will be for his side to start the Wild Card game on the front-foot.

“Accepting those feelings of emotion when they come about is going to be key,” Brady told reporters. “Not letting those emotions get out of hand, but when the right time comes, showing that emotion, showing that flair, I think is definitely going to be needed for a game of this caliber. 

“And then for the rest of the team, more from a general perspective, I think, keeping our heads, you know, sticking to the game plan, keeping calm, especially in the first few minutes is going to be key so that nothing gets out of hand.”

This matchup is massive for the Chicago Fire organization and it would be a major step forward if the club could at least get into the main draw of the MLS playoffs. A win over Orlando, especially if it happens in 90 minutes, would be another mark of success for the club under Gregg Berhalter after snapping Chicago’s long postseason drought. 

MLS 360 host and former Chicago Fire broadcaster Kevin Egan spoke to On Tap Sports Net’s Joe Chatz to help preview the Chicago Fire’s wild card matchup against Orlando City. Egan will be hosting MLS’s studio coverage during the Wild Card games.

—

This interview has been slightly abbreviated and edited for clarity.

JC: From your perspective, what has made the Chicago Fire a postseason team in 2025 after eight years away?

KE: “It’s the beautiful blend of young, Homegrown players coming through that understand what it means to represent the city of Chicago and the fabric of the club mixed with really sensible signings from afar. Hugo Cuypers, a Golden Boot winner over in Belgium, Philip Zinckernagel, a great signing from club Brugge, an excellent signing in Jonathan Bamba, who obviously had a tremendous career as well over in Spain and France and other places. I just think the way this roster has been pieced together, kudos to Gregg Berhalter, who is obviously a tremendous signing, and letting him have control of the soccer side of things is huge. 

“Joe Mansueto is a really ambitious owner that wants to take this club all the way to the top, and that’s really welcome in the city of Chicago. That’s one of the biggest and most beautiful cities in the world and, where I know from living there for seven years, there is such a huge soccer fan base that needs to fall back in love with the Fire and I think they’re slowly but surely doing it.”

JC: Chicago will have at least Homegrown Chris Brady in the starting 11 and Brian Gutiérrez is expected to play a major role regardless of whether he is in the 11, what have you seen from those Homegrown players?

KE: “[Chris Brady]’s had his mistakes. He’s a young, young goalkeeper but he’s a warrior, and he would fight and claw for the city of Chicago…. 

“Brian Gutiérrez is still at the club and whatever happened behind the scenes [in the summer when he was rumored for a move], the fact that he’s still there, still representing Chicago and taking Chicago into a playoff game for the first time since 2017 is a big deal…

“I love the fact that Gregg Berhalter understands the City of Chicago, he has been there a long time, and there’s good, young Chicago guys there that can represent. And then when the stars come in from afar, they can help them get used to the city and understand the city.”

JC: The Fire will be taking on Orlando at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview, a place you are quite familiar with. What memories does that building evoke?

KE: “I made so many trips out to Bridgeview in my time, never the easiest place to get to. I loved it, because I loved every single moment covering the Chicago Fire but there was a special time in 2013 when the team, after the signing of Mike McGee, was the best team in the regular season and didn’t even make the playoffs, missed out on the final day. But there was such a great buzz, this infectious enthusiasm around the club, yet it still felt a little bit niche, really niche, actually, in Chicago, it nearly felt like an underground fan base that showed up for the team.”

Who: Chicago Fire FC vs Orlando City SC

What: MLS Eastern Conference Wild Card

When: 7:30 p.m. on October 22, 2025

How to watch: MLS Season Pass Apple TV