Chicago City Wire

Chicago Fire FC has announced the acquisition of the Chicagoland Indoor Soccer League (CISL), a leading indoor youth soccer league in Illinois. The agreement transfers ownership from CISL founder and operator John Niestrom to the Major League Soccer club.

CISL began operations in 2007 with 40 teams and now hosts more than 800 teams and between 10,000 to 12,000 players each year at multiple venues. This growth has made it one of the largest youth soccer leagues in the Chicago area.

By adding CISL to its network, Chicago Fire FC aims to increase its presence within Illinois' youth soccer community. The club plans to engage with directors, coaches, players, and families involved in CISL. This relationship is intended to create opportunities for collaboration and foster connections that could lead young players toward professional careers or lifelong support for the team.

“Chicago Fire FC is thrilled to be partnering with Chicagoland Indoor Soccer League to lead the evolution of youth soccer within our state. As a club, one of our long-term goals is to be the professional club of choice and be involved wherever the game is played,” said Chicago Fire FC SVP of Youth Soccer Paul Cadwell. “The partnership with CISL will allow us to do just that and will serve as an exciting opportunity for those involved as the league extends its reach in the future.”

The partnership includes plans for new initiatives focused on education and development for players, coaches, and referees. It also aims to connect participants more closely with Chicago Fire’s First Team and Academy through tailored access programs. The club has previously developed local talent such as Andrew Gutman, Mauricio Pineda, Chris Brady, and Sergio Oregel—former CISL players who signed homegrown contracts with Chicago Fire FC.

“Partnering with Chicago Fire FC was a clear and strategic decision. Their goal to make soccer a top priority in Chicago perfectly aligns with our vision. The Fire’s passionate team is dedicated exclusively to the Chicago market and will leverage the CISL platform to grow the Fire brand within the local soccer community, identify talented players for the Chicago Fire Academy, and develop players for the professional team.” said League founder John Niestrom. “The CISL team remains committed to operating a professional platform and is dedicated to advancing the beautiful game.”

With this acquisition, Chicago Fire intends to use its resources as a professional sports organization to further develop operations within CISL by strengthening infrastructure and increasing visibility for clubs, officials, and athletes.

More information about Chicagoland Indoor Soccer League can be found at chicagolandindoorsoccer.com. Details about Chicago Fire FC are available at chicagofirefc.com.