Chicago Fire FC is set to play against Columbus Crew in the 80th meeting of their longstanding rivalry. The match will take place on Saturday, March 7, 2026, at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field in Columbus, Ohio, with kickoff scheduled for 6:30 p.m. CT.
The Fire enter the game after a 3-0 win over CF Montréal in their home opener at Soldier Field. In that match, Jonathan Bamba scored the opening and decisive goal in his first appearance of the season. Goalkeeper Chris Brady kept a clean sheet, while Hugo Cuypers scored for the second consecutive match and Robin Lod added his first goal for Chicago.
Columbus Crew are seeking their first victory of the season as they host Chicago. They began their campaign with a loss to Portland and then drew against Sporting Kansas City. Designated Player Wessam Abou Ali scored for Columbus in Kansas City before Dejan Joveljić’s two goals put Kansas City ahead. Diego Rossi later equalized for Columbus.
The all-time Major League Soccer regular season record between these teams stands even at 28 wins each and 23 draws. Their last encounter ended with a 2-0 victory for Chicago on September 27, 2025.
Saturday’s match marks an important milestone as it is the most played fixture for both clubs in league history. Chris Brady will be starting his 95th MLS regular season game if selected and could achieve back-to-back shutouts following his recent performance against Montréal. “Goalkeeper Chris Brady could start his 95th MLS regular season match in Columbus coming off a shutout against Montréal. The Crew have a strong cast of players on the attack, but Brady is confident in a defense that allowed only four shots and 0.1 xG last weekend.” With this start, he would be five matches away from reaching 100 career starts for Chicago Fire FC.
Chris Mueller may also reach his own milestone by making his 175th regular season appearance if he plays against Columbus. He has scored three times against them across previous matches.
Chicago Fire FC Director of Football and Head Coach Gregg Berhalter has made two changes to the lineup from last week’s win over Montréal. Joel Waterman returns to the starting eleven alongside Mbekezeli Mbokazi and captain Jack Elliott on defense. Mueller leads the attack in place of Hugo Cuypers, who is unavailable due to injury.
Maren Haile-Selassie shifts from right to left wingback while Leonardo Barroso remains on the right side following their successful partnership last week. Mauricio Pineda and Anton Salétros continue together in midfield after limiting Montréal to just four shots previously.
Jonathan Bamba starts again after scoring last weekend; he returns to Columbus where he recorded two assists during his MLS debut last year.
Bench options include goalkeeper Josh Cohen; defenders Viktor Radojević and Christopher Cupps; midfielders Robin Lod, Dylan Borso, Sergio Oregel Jr., Dje D’Avilla; winger Puso Dithejane; and forward Jason Shokalook.
Players unavailable due to injury or suspension include Hugo Cuypers (lower body), Andrew Gutman (lower body), Jonathan Dean (suspension), Sam Rogers (lower body), and André Franco (lower body).
Chicago Fire FC competes professionally within Major League Soccer conferences with a roster featured on its official website. The club uses Soldier Field as its home venue for matches and events, contributes to soccer growth throughout the Midwest region and supports community initiatives, including youth development programs and community engagement. Chicago Fire FC has achieved success with an MLS Cup title and several U.S. Open Cup victories in its history, incorporating branding inspired by the Great Chicago Fire in its crest and colors.
For updates about lineups or further information regarding Saturday’s match or club activities, fans can follow Chicago Fire FC through various social media channels.
