Did I choose an overly-hackneyed phrase and try to make a theme out of it with the Fire facing Minnesota? Yes, yes I did. Do I feel bad about it? No, no I don't.

Huge news for the Chicago Fire as they now have approval to build the new stadium from the Chicago Plan Commission. On track to start construction this fall and open in 2028. #cf97 #VamosFire

And Minnesota lose in the most brutal of ways. Absolute dagger from Fodrey putting Austin into the USOC final.

The Chicago Fire's opponent on Saturday will have to go 120 minutes on Wednesday. Minnesota United and Austin FC going to extra time in the #USOC2025 semis. #cf97 #VamosFire

If Pope Leo has not canonized Charlie Kirk by April 20th we will prosecute. by Pam Bondi

This is absolutely wild.

The dominoes keep falling in #mls with a month left in the season Mackay looked like a fantastic hire, but a lot of the decisions – incl. around cap management, in theory his bread and butter – have been puzzling

Is it possible to sue a party for libel for their claims in a lawsuit?

The Salt Lake Trib reporting that #mls fan code of conduct banning political imagery "does not include apparel such as hats" after #rsl apologized to fan removed for wearing a MAGA hat. That has not been a consistent interpretation of this rule in #mls www.sltrib.com/sports/rsl/2...

TBH they're a lot easier to like when they're indoors (but still, give me real grass and open sky any day of the week, and twice on weekends)

Tom Bogert reporting that 3 Fire homegrowns – Chris Brady, Sergio Oregel Jr. and Mauricio Pineda have signed contract extensions. Brady had been pushing for new deal for some time after emerging as #cf97 starter. #VamosFire

Porter sounded like he saw this coming after Revs loss to the Fire last week, making a postseason spot almost impossible. Now #cf97 will face a Revs team on Decision Day with an interim & nothing to play for except pride - will this make them more dangerous?

It is 5:32 PM CT. @joechatz.bsky.social has entered his fifth hour in Bridgeview. He has not yet hit the midpoint of his time there today. Will the villagers accept Joe as a native son before the sun sets over Mount Bridgeview?

The TL;DR on this is that I thought the Fire needed some kind of "signature win" down the stretch to show themselves (& everyone) that they can be dangerous in the postseason (if they make it)... and I'm still looking for it. #cf97 have 3 more games against tough teams this campaign to find it.

I just hope & pray that he holds on as manager until December 14 so this matchup can happen again. I _NEED_ it.

The homophobic chant was repeated multiple times in the second half of the match from a small but audible (from the press box at least) contingent of fans every time Freese had a free kick. Totally unacceptable and MLS did not engage its own protocols.

Chicago Fire catch a bullet, with Portland defeating 10th place RBNY 2-1 getting their first win in a month and a half. The result keeps the Fire in 9th place in the East going into a tough matchup in Minnesota. #cf97 #VamosFire

Tonight's attendance at Soldier Field 20,636 #cf97

Some #cf97 fans trying to ruin a perfectly good game of soccer with a chant that shouldn't be heard. #VamosFire and let's just knock it off.

Overall a fair score for what we saw but New York have looked to be more dangerous later once they realized the Fire are pushing numbers forward & can get caught on the quick counter.

Viktor Radojević introduced as no. 14 for the Chicago Fire #cf97 #VamosFire

Just in case anyone was wondering which house was least popular.. only Slytherin still available #cf97 #VamosFire

Soldier Field empty stadium picture featuring lots of blue paint, gridiron likes almost as visible as the soccer ones, and, I guess, grass? Technically? #cf97 #VamosFire

When Joe asked yesterday, we got the quickest, shortest and clearest "they'll be ready to go, no restrictions" I think I've ever heard and yet.... Barroso is out. Could've been a knock in training today, but that's very fast to rule him definitively unavailable.

Chicago Fire control their destiny for no 8 spot – even though NYCFC are there w/a game in hand. How? It gets incredibly nerdy – and then I realize that it's so silly that even I don't want to finish the thought. But listen for al lot better content than just this in the pod w/Joe & John #cf97

Start doing hockey-style offsides

We talk serious issues, and then we have a good time joking about actual ball as we dig into the Fire's upcoming game against NYCFC.

At Chicago Fire training 2 days ahead of the match against NYCFC Kouamé training with the squad. Waterman & Barroso back from int'l duty in the UK Radojević not yet arrived #cf97 #VamosFire

On a day when the excellent reporting from The Athletic was on display, this story without context or quotes on why Kirk was given a moment of silence but not any of the 10,361 other people who died from firearm-related causes in the US in 2025 is just bad reporting.

Just received the following official statement from the Chicago Fire on Lienart: "We first learned of the allegations from the New York Times article this morning.  Mr. Lienert is no longer employed by the organization." #cf97 #VamosFire

This is apparently what a stadium ready to open looks like according to Barça 🤷 Reduced 27k capacity for 1st match back this Sunday www.nytimes.com/athletic/660...

The TL;DR on this is that to start construction, plan needs approval of Plan Commission (meets 9/18) – seldom given w/out Ald approval, seldom denied w/it. If Ald. Dowell wants, she can seek to slow approval & get "1 stadium on site" put into formal documents 1st. #cf97 #VamosFire

The Athletic reporting allegations of misconduct against Chicago Fire sales exec Michael Lienart while with the Detroit Tigers, incl. non-disclosed relationships w/coworkers & physical altercation after "heated exchange" in 2023. www.nytimes.com/athletic/661... #cf97 #VamosFire

Crains reporting that area Ald. Pat Dowell supports proposed Chicago Fire stadium – is Sox stadium isn't also part of plans. Also: Developer has proposed ped bridge over rail tracks; awaiting Metra approval to move fwd. #cf97 #VamosFire www.chicagobusiness.com/sports/fire-...

My takeway from the 2-0 win for #usmnt over Japan: Don't over-index against Japan's B-team, but Poch was able to get the guys to show up with fight & team showed up with an idea of how they wre supposed to play Maybe not much but counts as progress

Japanese lesson of the day for #usmnt: Dos a cero: に ゼロ対 ni tai zero

Zendejas from Arfsten. Goal for Team North America in @mattdoyle.bsky.social's USMNT friendly plan

Search “Ronaldo Las Vegas” for more info on this potential matchup.

#cf97's Joel Waterman once again on the bench as CanMNT take on Wales, kicking off at 1:45 CT 📸: @canmntofficial.bsky.social

Here's the video I couldn't find on here earlier – the field the Bears are about to play on, becoming the pitch that the Chicago Fire will host NYCFC on this Saturday. Looks bad now. An NFL game will not do much to improve things.

From @chawkey1003.bsky.social on X: Look at Soldier Field pitch conditions before the Bears season opener tonight Five days after the NFL game, the Chicago Fire host NYCFC on the same surface. Wouldn't expect intricate passing networks in that one. #cf97 #VamosFire

Luis Suárez's 3 game MLS suspension means he will miss games v Charlotte, Seattle & DC... but will be available for team's game vs the Chicago Fire on September 30. #cf97 #VamosFire

Chicago Fire II's Claudio Cassano loan to sister club FC Lugano now official. Loan through June 2026. After that, Claudio slated to return to #cf97 's #mlsnextpro affiliate but would be eligible for 1st team deal if Fire take on his original xfer fee + find int'l slot. 📸: FC Lugano

Yes, the Fire let the Revs pull two back but I liked a lot of the things I saw. Here's what I liked about the midfield's performance in André Franco's first start for #cf97 Check out the whole episode of The Bonfire where @w3stw3stw3st & I dig into the 3-2 W in Bridgeview

So believe it or not, Fire actually back above .500 at home (if we're counting SeatGeek as "home") – a lot of good stuff that John and I dug into. Please read and enjoy (and any you don't enjoy, well, I'll tell you that it was one of the ones John wrote).

Looking for #goalz above all? Tune in to the MLS teams led by former USMNT head coaches. Bruce Arena's San Jose: An MLS-most 104 total goals in their 29 matches; 55.5 expected goals, 47.3 xG conceded GGG's Chicago: Second with 103 total goals in their 28 matches; 46.1 xG, 46.5 xG conceded

Not convinced the broadcast angle can show the near touchline by the center of the pitch in Evanston #WithTheStars

Just putting this out there: Pablo has given us some of the best soccer writing in America, with a voice & perspective unlike anyone else's. So, let him know you'd chip in a few bucks as he works to grow his own audience b/c without him, we wouldn't have the complete history of stuff like how this

Tonight's W gives the Chicago Fire 42 points, the most they've had since their Decision Day win over Orlando in 2019. #cf97 #VamosFire

Fulltime in Bridgeview. Fire see it out with a 3-2 victory but it got far nervier at the end than it needed to for #cf97