- Team form: Chicago have won their last two matches, drawing one and losing two of their last five in all competitions.
- Opponent run: Philadelphia have won their last five matches (5-0-0).
- Home record: Chicago have conceded just 15 goals in 13 home games in MLS 2026.
Tight game with goals likely
Philadelphia Union will be tough to top in MLS 2026 in the remainder of the season unless Gregg Berhalter's Chicago Fire can stop them. The Union have been in irresistible form since Ryan Richter took over on 27 May 2026.
A 5-0 win at San Diego, 4-3 at Sporting Kansas City and 4-2 home victory over Orlando City has put Philadelphia Union in top form for the stretch run of the campaign and it is hard to see Chicago holding them off in Chicago on Thursday.
Berhalter’s men are hard to beat
Flexible tactics
The Men in Red, who have played to their potential under Berhalter since his appointment on 20 October 2024, have mixed things up well in 2026 with their ability to play with or without a lone striker and in a back three.
Goals and confidence
Maren Haile-Selassie has added an extra spark to their play of late, chipping in with two goals in his last five appearances as Chicago have bagged six during that sequence. They also tend to sit deep and counter with pace, having won their way into the game at Charlotte when they ran out 1-0 winners. But after their 3-0 defeat at Nashville last weekend, they beat Vancouver 3-1 at home and should be full of confidence.
Philly are on fire
This is a chess match between two contrasting styles with the Boys in Blue favouring a structured press and an ability to hit hard on the counterattack when they get the ball back in advanced positions.
Chicago's home form has been solid, but a little patchy of late with one win, one draw and one defeat in their last three. We're leaning towards Philly to nick this with the odds on the draw of 3.95 looking a little too short as well. Chicago can score goals too, however, so our correct score forecast is 2-1 to the visitors.
- That's been evident in their recent games, where Milan Iloski has been their main predator and scorer, registering 16 MLS 2026 goals in 27 appearances.
- Philadelphia come in at 2.28, which looks a touch short for a team that are 12th in the standings on 39 points from 27 games while Chicago are seventh on 45 points from 27.
- Over 2.5 goals at 1.35 looks a good option to take as both teams have been scoring and the Union are finishing right now.
