Chicago City Wire

Chicago kicks off its run in the 2024 Leagues Cup on Sunday night against Sporting Kansas City. Beginning at 8:00 p.m. CT, the match will be broadcast globally on MLS Season Pass.

Head Coach Frank Klopas and his squad are looking to make the most of the mid-season break, blending veteran leadership with young talent. Chicago’s roster includes three players from Chicago Fire FC II: defender Jaylen Shannon, midfielder Christian Koffi, and winger Omari Glasgow.

Gastón Giménez wears the captain’s armband for the fifth overall time in 2024 and the first in Leagues Cup. Giménez started all three of Chicago’s 2023 Leagues Cup matches and has 10 regular season starts for the Fire in 2024.

Chicago Fire II player Jaylen Shannon will make his Chicago Fire FC debut, earning his first start after starting all 16 MLS NEXT Pro matches he has played for Fire II. Spencer Richey makes his second Leagues Cup start for the Fire, having played the full 90 minutes in a 3-2 win against Minnesota United FC on July 27, 2023.

Brian Gutiérrez makes his third Leagues Cup start and will play in his fourth overall Leagues Cup match after being part of each of the Club’s 2023 matches. Kellyn Acosta makes his Leagues Cup debut for the Men in Red, starting for the fourth overall time in the tournament. Acosta started all three of LAFC’s Leagues Cup matches in 2023.

Fabian Herbers starts his third Leagues Cup match for the Fire, having played from the outset in Chicago’s two group matches against Minnesota United FC and Puebla F.C. Herbers has started 20 regular season matches for Chicago in 2024.

Haile-Selassie earns his third Leagues Cup start for the Fire and plays in his fourth overall League Cup match after being part of all three of Chicago’s matches in 2023. Arnaud Souquet starts his third Leagues Cup match for the Fire, playing in his fourth overall Leagues Cup match for the Men in Red. Souquet scored in the 79th minute of Chicago’s first group stage match of the 2023 Leagues Cup, a 3-2 win against Minnesota United FC.

Tobias Salquist makes his Leagues Cup debut for Chicago Fire, returning to Chicago’s starting XI for the first time since suffering an injury during a tie against Atlanta United on April 27. Georgios Koutsias will start for a third time in a Leagues Cup match for Chicago and will play in his fourth overall Leagues Cup match.

Tom Barlow starts his first Leagues Cup match for Men In Red after having played all four New York Red Bulls’ games during their run last year.

Defenders Allan Arigoni (not due to injury), Rafael Czichos (illness), Jonathan Dean (leg), Chase Gasper (leg), Carlos Terán (illness), Wyatt Omsberg (leg); defender/midfielder Mauricio Pineda (head); midfielders Chris Mueller (illness), Justin Reynolds (illness) and Xherdan Shaqiri (not due to injury); forward Hugo Cuypers are unavailable tonight.

Available off-bench options include goalkeepers Chris Brady and Jeff Gal; defender Andrew Gutman; midfielders Javier Casas Jr., Christian Koffi, Federico Navarro; winger Omari Glasgow.