Matchday | Chicago Fire FC Resumes League Road Trip at Seattle Sounders FC

Match Information

Chicago Fire FC (11-6-3, 36 points) at Seattle Sounders FC (7-9-4, 25 points)
Saturday, August 29, 2026
3:30 p.m. CT
Lumen Field – Seattle

How to Watch: Apple TV
English: Max Bretos & Brian Dunseth
Spanish: Francisco X. Rivera

How to Listen: wlsam.com // TUDN Chicago 106.7-HD2
English: Max Anderson & Joe Chatz
Spanish: Liz Jiménez & Teresa Limon

Match Preview

Chicago Fire FC resumes a four-game league road trip in the Pacific Northwest, facing Seattle Sounders FC on Saturday, August 29.

Chicago returns to league play after falling 2-1 in the Leagues Cup 2026 Quarterfinals against Liga MX side C.F. Monterrey on Tuesday. Before then, the Fire played the second leg of the road trip in Harrison, N.J. against Red Bull New York last Saturday night. Maren Haile-Selassie opened the match with a stunning goal to give the Fire a lead they would hold through the 86th minute, when the hosts tied the match. The result ended the Men in Red's six-game winning streak across all competitions, but made it four regular season games in a row without a loss.

The defending Leagues Cup champions, Seattle Sounders, will hope last week's road draw in Cincinnati will kickstart a positive streak of their own. Before then, Seattle endured eight losses in a row in league play, with the only win since May 13 coming against Mexican side Queretaro FC in the interleague tournament. But the Sounders enjoy significant home field advantage at Lumen Field, where they have never lost to the Fire in eight matches all-time.

All-Time Major League Soccer Record vs. SEA: (4-10-4)

Last Game vs. SEA: July 16, 2022 (1-0 W) – Soldier Field – Chicago (Match Recap)
Last Match at SEA: June 29, 2024 (1-2 L) – Lumen Field – Seattle (Match Recap)

Hyundai Keys to the Match:

• Even Flow: Chicago is back on the road with a four-game unbeaten streak in league play. A steady flow of performances across the roster is a primary factor behind the Fire’s positive run – one more could give them points in Seattle.

• Man in the Box: Chris Brady has been at his best since returning from FIFA World Cup 2026. The Homegrown goalkeeper could see a new accolade if he plays 34 minutes on Saturday: 10,000 minutes in Major League Soccer.

• No Excuses: The Men in Red have never come away from the Emerald City with three points. But that won’t be an excuse for this squad, which has been breaking records and setting firsts all season.

Starting XI

Chicago Fire FC Director of Football and Head Coach Gregg Berhalter has named the following Starting XI tasked with getting a win in Seattle for the first time.

• Today’s matinee will feature six changes from the Starting XI that earned a point in New Jersey last Saturday night against Red Bull New York.

• Robert Lewandowski is back in his iconic no. 9 spot in the lineup after coming off the bench last Saturday in Harrison. The Polish striker is looking for his second goal in as many starts since the beginning of the current league road trip.

• The duo of Djé D’Avilla and Anton Salétros return to the center of the park after entering the pitch as substitutions in the second half of the match against New York. They will be joined by the versatile Robin Lod in the midfield, who started last Saturday in the front line in place of Lewandowski.

• Center back Jack Elliott will make his 275th regular season appearance from the start in the Fire backline. He will don the captain’s armband lining up alongside Sam Rogers, who returns to his hometown to make his second straight start and third in the last four matches.

• Joining Elliott and Rogers in defense of the Fire goal is Andrew Gutman in his customary left back spot. Jonathan Dean completes the lineup at right back in his 55th regular season start with the Fire.

• Chris Brady could set a Club record in his 113th appearance with Chicago. The goalkeeper is 34 minutes away from becoming the second Homegrown player to reach the 10,000-minute mark in Chicago Fire FC history. Crucially, he will look for his 12th win of the season, matching his career-high from last year.

• Completing the Fire attack are returning starters Philip Zinckernagel and Maren Haile-Selassie, the latter of whom will look for a second straight match with a goal after scoring a stunner in New Jersey last week.
• Goalkeeper Josh Cohen; defenders Leonardo Barroso, Viktor Radojević and Joel Waterman; midfielders Mauricio Pineda, Sergio Oregel Jr. and Sam Williams; and winger Puso Dithejane and Jonathan Bamba will be available off the bench in Seattle.

• Winger Chris Mueller (Not Due to Injury) is unavailable for selection today. Defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi (Lower Body) and midfielder André Franco (Lower Body) remain on the Injured List.

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