Chicago has a tough task in front of them against Philadelphia
The Chicago Fire’s Leonardo Barroso. Mandatory Credit: Chicago Fire FC
Photo Credit: Photo: Chicago Fire FC
The Chicago Fire have a tough task ahead of them this weekend as they try to maintain their current position in the Eastern Conference playoff places with only eight matches remaining in the 2025 MLS regular season.
The Fire (11-9-6, 39 points, ninth in Eastern Conference) are unbeaten in their last five and currently occupy the final Eastern Conference postseason place while the Union (15-6-6, 51 points, second in Eastern Conference) are just a point behind FC Cincinnati at the top of the conference table with less than two months remaining in the season.
The two sides faced off at Soldier Field at the end of June, and Philadelphia left with all three points after a handball from Andrew Gutman gifted the visitors the only goal of the contest.
The Chicago Fire need a result in Chester to maintain their pace for the final stretch of the season, but it won’t be an easy contest at all on Saturday evening.
“They’re a very good team,” Fire director of football and head coach Gregg Berhalter said during his weekly media availability. “I’ve always loved playing in Chester. I love the fans. I love how they get after it. They get after you. They get after the team. They make it a hostile environment. I think that’s great.
“But the reality is we’re playing one of the top teams in our conference, and we’re playing them away, and we want to go and show that we can compete with these teams. We were really disappointed with the result when we played them the first time. I didn’t think we played up to our ability. Give them credit for making it difficult for us, but we’re excited about this possibility in Philly. We know it’s a good team, but we’re relishing it.”
New Fire midfielder André Franco is expected to make his MLS debut at some point against Philadelphia after joining Chicago last week from FC Porto in Portugal through at least the end of the 2025 MLS season. It remains to be seen whether fellow incoming signings Joel Waterman and Viktor Radojević will play a part in the Fire’s matchup in Chester, Pennsylvania.
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Although Waterman’s status is up in the air and the Fire transferred Carlos Terán to Club Athletico Paranaense in Brazil, Chicago should have the rest of its center back room available after Christopher Cupps made multiple rehab starts with Chicago Fire II.
Chicago is also on the precipice of MLS history, entering its contest against the Union. The Fire have scored 33 goals on the road in 2025 and if they score one more, they’d join the five other clubs tied for fifth in most goals scored on the road in a MLS season. Two goals would tie the Fire with the 2024 Philadelphia Union in fourth. The 1998 LA Galaxy hold the record with 44 road goals scored in a season, so Chicago can reasonably make a play for second all-time in their final four road contests.
Who: Chicago Fire FC vs Philadelphia Union
When: August 23, 2025, 6:30 p.m. CT
Where: Subaru Park, Chester, Pennsylvania
How to watch: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV+
Follow @soccer_ontap on X for more Chicago Fire news and updates!