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MLS Chicago Fire FC

Chicago Fire FC Weekly Update: Decision Day, Training Schedule, National Team Roundup, and Two for 22 Under 22

October 16, 2023 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Chicago Fire FC News Release


COUNTDOWN TO DECISION DAY

Following the conclusion of the FIFA international window, Chicago returns to MLS action with a Decision Day match against New York City FC at Citi Field. Kickoff is set for 5 p.m. CT for all Eastern Conference matches on Saturday, Oct. 21, and the match will be broadcast on Apple TV, streamed in English on wlsam.com and transmitted locally in Spanish on TUDN 1200 AM.

Chicago heads to the Big Apple seeking its first road win against NYCFC, with the Fire registering a 3-10-6 all-time record against the New York side in which all three victories have come at home. The Eastern Conference foes last faced each other when they split points in Chicago's season opener on Saturday, March 4, at Soldier Field. The match ended in a 1-1 draw that saw Fire midfielder Fabian Herbers open his 2023 scoring account to tie the game in the 75th minute.

The Fire are unbeaten in three of the team's last four games, including a 1-0 road win against the New York Red Bulls on Saturday, Sept. 30 and a 4-1 win at home against Inter Miami CF in front of a sold-out crowd of 62,124 on Wednesday, Oct. 4 at Soldier Field.

Chicago (10-13-10, 40 points) currently occupies the 11th spot in the Eastern Conference standings, two places above NYCFC (8-11-14, 38 points). Both teams will be looking to surpass CF Montréal who is currently in eighth place (12-16-5, 41 points) and 10th place New York Red Bulls (10-13-10, 40 points). D.C. United, who is currently in ninth place in the standings, has played all 34 regular season matches and has been mathematically eliminated from playoff contention.

CHICAGO FIRE FC INTERNATIONAL BREAK UPDATE

The international break was a busy one for several Chicago Fire players, who were part of FIFA World Cup qualifying, UEFA EURO qualifying, UEFA EURO U-21 qualifying, international friendlies ahead of the 2024 Olympic Games, Concacaf Nations League and preparations for the 2023 Pan-American Games.

Designated Player Xherdan Shaqiri was part of Switzerland's 3-3 tie with Belarus on Sunday, Oct. 15 at AFG Arena in St. Gallen, Switzerland. The FIFA World Cup veteran scored the first goal of the game in the 28th minute, setting the course for La Nati. Switzerland is currently in second place of the Group I standings with 15 points, behind Romania with 16 points. Switzerland's Matchday 7 contest against Israel was scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 12 but was postponed by FIFA and will be played at a future date yet to be determined.

Defender Miguel Navarro's Venezuela tied South American giant Brazil 1-1 on Thursday, Oct. 12 at the Arena Pantanal in Cuiabà, Brazil in Conmebol FIFA World Cup qualifying. Navarro was an available substitute for the match, but did not feature in the contest. Venezuela next hosts Chile at 4 p.m. CT on Tuesday, Oct. 17 at the Estadio Monumental de Maturín in Maturín, Venezuela.

Paraguay fell 1-0 to first-place Argentina in Conmebol FIFA World Cup qualifying, with Chicago Fire midfielder Gastón Giménez earning a spot on the game day roster. Giménez did not feature in the match at the Estadio Mâs Monumental in Buenos Aires, but will have another opportunity as Paraguay hosts Bolivia at 5:30 p.m. CT on Tuesday, Oct. 17 at the Estadio Defensores del Chaco in Asunción, Paraguay.

The U.S. Olympic Men's Soccer Team began its journey to the 2024 Paris Olympics with a 2-1 victory over archrival Mexico. Chicago Fire midfielder Brian Gutiérrez earned the start and played 73 minutes in the encounter. Fire goalkeeper Chris Brady did not feature against Mexico, but the U.S. U-23 MYNT will play one more friendly during camp, taking on Japan at 9:30 p.m. CT on Tuesday, Oct. 17. The USA qualified for its first Olympic Men's Football Tournament in 16 years with a dominant performance at the 2022 Concacaf U-20 Championship. There, the U.S. topped host Honduras 3-0 before a raucous crowd in San Pedro Sula to secure its Olympic berth and Brady earned the Golden Glove as the best goalkeeper of the tournament.

At the U-21 level, forward Georgios Koutsias scored the game-tying goal in the Greece U-21 team's 2-2 draw with Croatia. The tie places Greece in second place in Group G of the UEFA EURO U-21 qualifying table, behind Portugal with nine points. Greece will face Portugal at 1 p.m. CT on Tuesday, Oct. 17 at the Estadio D. Afonso Henriques in Guimarães, Portugal.

Homegrown midfielders Javier Casas and Sergio Oregel joined the U.S. U-22 MYNT ahead of the 2023 Pan-American Games in Santiago, Chile. Led by head coach Michael Nsien, the U.S. is set to face Brazil, Colombia, and Honduras in the group stage of the 2023 Pan-American Games. All matches will take place at Estadio Sausalito in Viña del Mar, Valparaíso, Chile. The international competition is set to take place from Oct. 22-Nov. 4, 2023.

In the Concacaf Nations League, Chicago Fire FC II forward Omari Glasgow and Guyana defeated Puerto Rico 3-1 on Saturday, Oct. 14 at the St. Kitts and Nevis Technical Centre. Glasgow's 60th-minute goal tied the game at 1-1 and sparked the comeback as Guyana scored twice more for the final score. The two teams will face off again in Group D of League B at 3 p.m. CT on Tuesday, Oct. 17 at the St. Kitts and Nevis Technical Centre.

BRADY, GUTIÉRREZ NAMED TO BODYARMOR'S 22 UNDER 22 LIST

Chicago Fire FC Homegrowns Brian Gutiérrez and Chris Brady were named to the 2023 MLSsoccer.com 22 Under 22 list, presented by BODYARMOR, the League announced last week. Gutiérrez was ranked fifth, while Brady was listed at No. 17, marking the first time both players were named to the annual list. Gutiérrez's ranking marks the second straight year in which a Fire player was voted into the top-five, while Brady was the only goalkeeper recognized on this year's list. Highlighting the top players in the League under the age of 22, the list is voted on by an expert panel consisting of MLSsoccer.com analysts, MLS Player Department staff and external media members.

Gutiérrez and Brady were two of five Homegrown players promoted from the Chicago Fire Academy at the start of the 2020 MLS season, signing their first professional contracts at 16-years-old. Gutiérrez has played in 87 matches (53 starts) for the Fire since 2020, while Brady has made 30 appearances (30 starts) across the last two seasons for the first team.

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