Chicago City Wire

Chicago continues its run in Leagues Cup 2024 on Thursday night against LigaMX side Deportivo Toluca FC. Beginning at 8:00 p.m. CT, the match will be broadcast globally on MLS Season Pass, FS1, and Univision.

Following a loss on the road against Sporting Kansas City in the first matchday of the tournament, Head Coach Frank Klopas’ squad will look to turn it around at home with one matchday left to be played between Sporting Kansas City and Deportivo Toluca FC on Monday. Today’s match is Toluca’s first of the tournament.

Coach Klopas makes two changes to the team that faced Sporting Kansas City on Sunday night. Gastón Giménez starts his second Leagues Cup 2024 match wearing the captain’s armband for the sixth overall time in 2024, and the second 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.

Georgios Koutsias scored his first goal of the year across all competitions for the Fire on Sunday against Sporting Kansas City. Koutsias will start for a fourth time in a Leagues Cup match for Chicago and will play in his fifth overall Leagues Cup match for the Men in Red.

Spencer Richey makes his third Leagues Cup start for the Fire, having played the full 90 minutes against Sporting Kansas City and in the 3-2 win against Minnesota United FC on July 27, 2023.

Brian Gutiérrez makes his second-straight Leagues Cup 2024 start and will play in his fifth overall Leagues Cup match after having been a part of each of the Club’s 2023 matches.

Kellyn Acosta makes his second-straight Leagues Cup 2024 start for the Men in Red, starting for the fifth overall time in the tournament. Acosta started all three of LAFC’s Leagues Cup matches in 2023.

Fabian Herbers starts for the second straight time in Leagues Cup 2024 and his fourth overall Leagues Cup match for the Fire, having played from outset in Chicago’s two 2023 group matches against Minnesota United FC and Puebla F.C. Herbers has started 20 regular season matches for Chicago in 2024.

Maren Haile-Selassie earns his fourth Leagues Cup start for the Fire and plays in his fifth overall Leagues Cup match after being part of all three of Chicago’s matches in 2023.

Arnaud Souquet starts his fourth Leagues Cup match for the Fire, playing in his fifth overall Leagues Cup match for Men In Red. Souquet scored in the 79th minute of Chicago’s first group stage match of 2023's League's cup - a win against Minnesota United FC (score:3-2).

Tobias Salquist starts his second straight League's cup game as he returns from injury sustained during April's Atlanta tie (0-0). Homegrown defender Justin Reynolds debuts today; previously debuting versus Inter Miami CF(July '20). Mauricio Pineda also makes an appearance following recovery; last year's participation was hindered by neck issues preventing earlier inclusion this round

Unavailable players include defenders Jonathan Dean(leg), Chase Gasper(leg) & Carlos Terán(leg); Midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri(non-injury related); Forward Hugo Cuypers(non-injury related).

Available substitutes include goalkeepers Chris Brady & Jeff Gal; Defenders Allan Arigoni,Rafael Czichos ,Andrew Gutman& Wyatt Omsberg ; Midfielders Javier Casas Jr., Christian Koffi ,Chris Mueller & Federico Navarro ; Forward Tom Barlow .