The South African defender helped secure the team’s second consecutive shutout and fourth shutout of the season
CHICAGO (April 13, 2026) – Chicago Fire FC defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi was named to the MLS Team of the Matchday Bench for Matchday 7 following the team’s fourth shutout of the season in Saturday’s 1-0 victory against Atlanta United FC at Soldier Field.
Mbokazi’s Team of the Matchday mention is the first of his career and comes after the team earned a second consecutive shutout at home in which he made a goal-line clearance to keep the score at zero. The goal-line save and overall outstanding defensive performance also earned the defender Xerox Man of the Match honors.
The South Africa native recently returned from two matches with the South Africa National Team during the FIFA International Break in March during which Bafana Bafana faced off twice against Panama.
The Matchday 7 MLS Team of the Matchday is as follows:
F:Â Julian Hall (RBNY), Rafael Navarro (COL), Brian White (VAN)
M: Alhassan Yusuf (NE), Adri Mehmeti (RBNY), Patrick Yazbek (NSH), Jack Skahan (SJ)
D: Timo Baumgartl (STL), Maya Yoshida (LA), Kosi Thompson (COL)
GK: Drake Callender (MIN)
Coach: Matt Wells (COL)
Bench: Matt Freese (NYC), Mbekezeli Mbokazi (CHI), Japhet Sery Larsen (PHI), Kyle Duncan (MIN), Jesús Bueno (PHI), Josh Atencio (COL), Niko Tsakiris (SJ), Diego Rossi (CLB), Kevin Kelsy (POR)
It’s a double matchweek for the Fire as Chicago will travel to the Mitten to face USL Championship side Detroit City FC in the 2026 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. Kickoff at Keyworth Stadium is set for 6:30 p.m. CT on Tuesday, April 14, on Paramount+. The Men in Red will then head to Ohio to take on FC Cincinnati on Saturday, April 18. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. CT and the match will be broadcast globally on Apple TV and transmitted locally on wlsam.com and the Uforia by TREBEL app.
