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New York Red Bulls vs Chicago Fire preview: match date, venue & prediction

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

When fans ask when New York Red Bulls play next, the answer is a high-stakes Eastern Conference clash against a Chicago Fire side pushing near the top of the standings. Red Bulls sit in mid-pack territory, while Fire arrive in a stronger position and with better recent form. With both clubs currently in MLS play-off qualifying spots, this meeting could have a major impact on seeding and momentum heading into the final third of the season.

Match details: date, kick-off & venue

  • Competition: Major League Soccer, Regular Season - 21
  • Date / Kick-off: 2026-08-22T23:30:00Z
  • Venue: Sports Illustrated Stadium, Harrison
  • Status: Not Started (Fixture has not started yet)

Standings & form

New York Red Bulls come into this home game ranked 8th in the Eastern Conference on 25 points after 20 matches. Their record stands at 7 wins, 4 draws and 9 defeats, with a goal difference of -12 (30 goals scored, 42 conceded). At Sports Illustrated Stadium they have been inconsistent: across 10 home games they have 4 wins, 2 draws and 4 losses, scoring 16 and conceding 19. The form guide shows a recent downturn, with a five-game sequence of LLWLL, underlining the pressure on the hosts to respond.

Chicago Fire travel in a much stronger league position. They are currently 3rd in the Eastern Conference with 35 points from 19 matches. Fire have recorded 11 wins, 2 draws and 6 defeats, with a positive goal difference of +11 (36 scored, 25 conceded). Away from home, Chicago have been solid if not dominant: in 9 away fixtures they have 4 wins, 2 draws and 3 losses, netting 16 and allowing 14. Their recent form string of WWWLL shows a strong run of three straight victories followed by two defeats, suggesting a high-variance but dangerous side.

Season statistics add more context. New York Red Bulls have kept just 1 clean sheet in 20 league games and have failed to score 5 times, underlining their defensive vulnerability and occasional attacking inconsistency. Chicago Fire, by contrast, have registered 6 clean sheets and have failed to score only once, reinforcing the impression of a more balanced and reliable outfit at both ends of the pitch. Discipline could also be a factor: both teams have accumulated a notable number of yellow cards, with Chicago’s bookings particularly concentrated in the final 15 minutes of matches.

Head-to-head

  • 2026-05-09: Chicago Fire 1–3 New York Red Bulls (Major League Soccer)
  • 2025-07-27: Chicago Fire 1–0 New York Red Bulls (Major League Soccer)
  • 2025-04-05: New York Red Bulls 2–1 Chicago Fire (Major League Soccer)
  • 2024-09-15: Chicago Fire 2–1 New York Red Bulls (Major League Soccer)
  • 2024-04-13: New York Red Bulls 0–0 Chicago Fire (Major League Soccer)
  • 2024-01-27: Chicago Fire 2–2 New York Red Bulls (Friendlies Clubs)
  • 2023-09-30: New York Red Bulls 0–1 Chicago Fire (Major League Soccer)
  • 2023-04-30: Chicago Fire 1–1 New York Red Bulls (Major League Soccer)
  • 2022-05-18: New York Red Bulls 3–3 Chicago Fire (Major League Soccer)
  • 2022-05-01: Chicago Fire 1–2 New York Red Bulls (Major League Soccer)

The head-to-head record between New York Red Bulls and Chicago Fire has been remarkably tight and high-scoring in recent seasons. Across these ten listed meetings in league and friendly action, both sides have enjoyed victories both home and away, while draws have often been entertaining, including 3–3 and 2–2 scorelines. The most recent clash in May 2026 finished Chicago Fire 1–3 New York Red Bulls, showing that Red Bulls are capable of taking three points in Chicago, while Fire have also produced key home wins such as the 2–1 success in September 2024.

Team news & absences

For New York Red Bulls, goalkeeper A. Marcucci is listed as Missing Fixture with a Knee Injury, ruling him out of this match. Winger R. Mosquera is Questionable due to a Thigh Injury, and his availability will be a late decision for the coaching staff.

Chicago Fire have several confirmed absentees. Defender A. Franco is 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 and listed as Inactive. Defender S. Oregel will miss the game with a Lower-Body Injury. These absences could test Chicago’s depth, particularly in defensive and wide areas.

Key players to watch

  • H. Cuypers (Chicago Fire) — 13 goals, 0 assists in MLS 2026, making him one of the league’s most prolific forwards and Chicago’s main attacking threat.
  • J. Hall (New York Red Bulls) — 9 goals and 3 assists, a key figure in the Red Bulls’ attack and crucial if the hosts are to trouble Chicago’s defence.
  • P. Zinckernagel (Chicago Fire) — 5 goals and 7 assists, the creative hub for Fire, combining goal threat with playmaking from midfield.

Prediction

The data-driven New York Red Bulls vs Chicago Fire prediction leans towards the visitors avoiding defeat. The model’s win probabilities give New York Red Bulls 10%, draw 45% and Chicago Fire 45%. The suggested advice is a “Double chance: draw or Chicago Fire”, reflecting Chicago’s superior league position, stronger recent form and more solid defensive record. For bettors and fans alike, that points to Chicago Fire as slight favourites, with the draw also a significant runner.

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