News Summary
Chicago Fire FC is set to battle Charlotte FC in a vital matchup on their road trip in MLS. While Chicago aims to extend their unbeaten streak, Charlotte looks to recover from a recent defeat. With both teams showing strong performances, anticipation builds for this exciting clash at Bank of America Stadium.
Charlotte, North Carolina – Chicago Fire FC is gearing up for a crucial match against Charlotte FC on Saturday, May 17, 2025, as they embark on a four-game road trip in Major League Soccer (MLS). The game will take place at Bank of America Stadium, with kickoff scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET.
The Fire are aiming to extend their unbeaten streak to three matches in MLS play, following recent victories against Detroit City FC and Atlanta United FC. On May 10, Chicago dominated Detroit in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Round of 32, winning decisively 4-0. Just days later, on May 13, they secured a hard-fought 2-1 win over Atlanta United, thanks in part to an 86th-minute goal by Rominigue Kouamé, assisted by Maren Haile-Selassie and Omari Glasgow.
Central to Chicago’s recent success has been their goal-scoring leader, Hugo Cuypers, who netted goals in both the recent matches against Detroit and Atlanta before the 15th minute, bringing his season total to eight goals. Despite this recent form, Chicago Fire currently sits 11th in the Eastern Conference with a record of 4 wins, 4 losses, and 4 draws, accumulating 16 points.
Charlotte FC enters this match following a disappointing 2-1 loss to Nashville SC, in which Liel Abada managed to score the opening goal for his team, but they ultimately fell short. This loss has put a damper on their recent form, but they remain strong contenders at home, boasting an impressive record of 5 wins and only 1 loss at Bank of America Stadium this season. Charlotte currently ranks 6th in the Eastern Conference with a record of 6 wins, 5 losses, and 1 draw, totaling 19 points.
The all-time MLS regular season record between the two teams leans heavily in favor of Charlotte FC, with Chicago Fire holding a record of 1 win and 5 losses. The Fire have lost their last five encounters against Charlotte, including the most recent matchup on May 15, 2024, where Chicago fell 1-0 at home.
Key players for Chicago, apart from Cuypers, include Homegrown midfielder Brian Gutiérrez, who has made an impact with 12 shots against Charlotte in previous matches. Conversely, Charlotte’s offensive strategy is bolstered by forwards Wilfried Zaha and Liel Abada, with Abada eclipsing his mark as one of the top scorers in Charlotte FC’s history, tying for third on the all-time goal record.
As both teams prepare for what is expected to be a competitive match, it is worth noting that several players are set to miss the encounter due to injuries. For Charlotte FC, Tyger Smalls has been ruled out, and Chicago Fire will be without Leonardo Barroso.
The upcoming match will be broadcast globally on MLS Season Pass via Apple TV, complemented by local radio coverage from WLSAM 890 (English) and Que Buena 105.1 (Spanish). Fans who arrive early at the stadium will be treated to limited-edition party shirts presented by Daimler Truck North America, adding to the excitement of the event.
With a notable history of encounters between these two clubs, fans and players alike are eager to see if Chicago Fire FC can break their losing streak against Charlotte FC and continue their pursuit for playoff positioning in the Eastern Conference.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
Charlotte FC Advances in U.S. Open Cup with Victory
Charlotte FC Begins U.S. Open Cup Journey Against NCFC
Tension Builds in Charlotte Over Undocumented Immigrant Arrests
Additional Resources
- Charlotte FC News
- Google Search: Charlotte FC vs Chicago Fire match preview
- Chicago Fire FC News
- Google Scholar: Major League Soccer
- QC News
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Chicago Fire FC
- Fox Sports
- Google News: Charlotte FC
