The big picture

Philadelphia Union come in 6th on the ladder with 50 points; Chicago Fire are 4th on 55. Only a couple of spots separate them, so there is plenty riding on it.

Philadelphia Union are 13–12–8 in MLS 2026, averaging 1.9 goals for and 1.5 against.

Chicago Fire are 16–10–7 in MLS 2026, averaging 1.8 goals for and 1.5 against.

Form

Philadelphia Union have won one of their last five and most recently lost to FC Cincinnati 0–1.

Chicago Fire have won two of their last five and most recently beat Colorado Rapids 4–2.

Head to head

These sides have met 40 times on our records since 2010: Philadelphia Union 19, Chicago Fire 12, 9 drawn.

Last time out (2026), Philadelphia Union won 3–1 at Soldier Field.

Biggest margin between these two: Philadelphia Union by 4 goals in 2025 (4–0).

Players to watch

For Philadelphia Union, watch Milan Iloski (0.6 goals a game, 2 assists in 2026) and Bruno Damiani (0.4 goals a game, 3 assists in 2026).

For Chicago Fire, watch Hugo Cuypers (1.2 goals a game in 2026) and Maren Haile-Selassie (0.4 goals a game, 6 assists in 2026).

What the numbers say

On the numbers this is too close to split.