[monks data]
New York City
Major League Soccer
May 25, 2025 at 8pm UK
Yankee Stadium
Chicago Fire

NY City
3 - 1
Chicago Fire

Bakrar (58'), Wolf (70'), Martinez (89' pen.)
Haak (14'), Moralez (28'), Gray (45+3'), Martins (56')
FT(HT: 0-1)
Zinckernagel (19')
Dean (45+1'), Tah D'Avilla (60')
Gutierrez (31'), Tah D'Avilla (84')

Preview: New York City FC vs. Chicago Fire - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Sunday's Major League Soccer clash between New York City FC and Chicago Fire, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Two teams separated by just two points in the Eastern Conference standings square off in the opening match on Sunday in MLS as New York City FC host the Chicago Fire at Yankee Stadium.

A 2-0 win over the New York Red Bulls lifted the Pigeons up to seventh in the East, two places above the Fire, who beat Charlotte FC 4-1.


Match preview

 New York City FC midfielder Justin Haak pictured on March 8, 2025© Imago

It was another strong defensive display for New York City FC last weekend, as they held their arch-rivals to just one effort on target and collected their second successive MLS clean sheet.

On Sunday, they can stretch their unbeaten streak in MLS to three matches, which would be their longest run without losing since Pascal Jansen took charge.

Heading into matchday 15 of the domestic campaign, NYCFC are holding down the final automatic place in the opening round of the playoffs, with only three points currently separating them from Nashville SC in fourth.

New York City have lost their last two matches played in the Bronx, suffering defeats to CF Montreal and Minnesota United, respectively.

They have suffered back-to-back defeats at Yankee Stadium for the first time in the regular season since the 2016 campaign.

The Boys in Blue have points in seven straight meetings against the Fire, collecting five clean sheets over that span with four victories.

 Chicago Fire head coach Gregg Berhalter pictured on April 13, 2025© Imago

An embarrassing 7-2 defeat versus Nashville SC last month seemed to wake up Chicago, who are on quite the hot streak heading into this clash.

Gregg Berhalter's side are on a five-match unbeaten run across all competitions since that defeat, winning their last four competitive fixtures.

Throughout the year, they have had their share of scoring opportunities, sitting third in the league for big chances per FotMob (46) and third when it comes to expected goals (25.3).

At last, though, they are making those chances count, winning their previous four competitive games by a combined margin of 13-3.

However, things can change quickly, and they are just a single point above the playoff line in the East but also a mere three below Inter Miami for sixth.

Chicago have won their last two away matches across all competitions, while their four league wins outside the Windy City in 2025 are twice as many as they had a year ago.

The Fire are winless in their last four regular-season away matches against New York clubs and have never beaten NYCFC on the road.

New York City FC Major League Soccer form:


New York City FC form (all competitions):
  • W
  • W
  • L
  • L
  • D
  • W


Chicago Fire Major League Soccer form:


Chicago form (all competitions):
  • L
  • D
  • W
  • W
  • W
  • W



Team News

New York City FC goalkeeper Matt Freese pictured on August 13, 2024© Imago

Last weekend, in the Hudson River Derby, New York City played without Malachi Jones, Keaton Parks, and Kevin O'Toole, who were all nursing leg injuries.

Alonso Martinez netted the winner 13 minutes into that clash, with Maxi Moralez netting his first of the 2025 campaign early in the second half.

At Charlotte, Chicago were without Carlos Teran, David Poreba, Chase Gasper and Leonardo Barroso, who all had lower body issues, while Chris Mueller was on paternity leave.

Brian Gutierrez had a brace on that occasion, with Jonathan Bamba and Philip Zinckernagel also finding the back of the net for the Fire.


New York City FC possible starting lineup:
Freese; Gray, Martins, Haak, Risa; O'Neill, Perea; Fernandez, Moralez, Wolf; Martinez

Chicago Fire possible starting lineup:
Brady; Dean, Rogers, Elliott, Gutman; Kouame, Pineda, Gutierrez; Zinckernagel, Cuypers, Bamba


SM words green background© PA Photos

We say: New York City FC 1-2 Chicago Fire

Berhalter has Chicago firing on all cylinders, believing they can beat anyone, and their depth could power them to another victory on Sunday.



For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.


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Written by
Joel Lefevre

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Game History

How you voted: NY City vs Chicago Fire

New York City FC
15.4%
Draw
7.7%
Chicago Fire
76.9%
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Tables header RHS

Eastern Conference

TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Philadelphia UnionPhiladelphia1483324121227
2Columbus Crew147522218426
3FC CincinnatiCincinnati158252121026
4Inter MiamiInter Miami137332619724
5New York City FCNY City157352017324
6Nashville SCNashville146442417722
7Charlotte FCCharlotte FC147162218422
8Chicago Fire156452828022
9Orlando City145632518721
10New York Red BullsNY Red Bulls146352115621
11New England RevolutionNew England136341510521
12DC United144461526-1116
13Toronto143471619-313
14Atlanta UnitedAtlanta153481727-1013
15CF MontrealMontreal141310725-186

Western Conference

TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Vancouver WhitecapsVancouver1384124101428
2Minnesota UnitedMinnesota Utd1484225131228
3Portland TimbersPortland136432320322
4Seattle SoundersSeattle145542318520
5Los Angeles FCLos Angeles135442120119
6Colorado RapidsColorado135441618-219
7San Jose EarthquakesEarthquakes145272722517
8Dallas144551522-717
9Austin FCAustin14527817-917
10St Louis City143471118-713
11Houston DynamoHouston143471422-813
12Real Salt LakeSalt Lake144191321-813
13Sporting Kansas CityKansas133281923-411
14Los Angeles GalaxyLA Galaxy131481229-177
15San Diego FC00000000


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