It was never going to be smooth sailing for the Chicago Fire in 2025. Chicago began their organizational overhaul in 2024 as it became clear that the franchise would again miss the postseason, a place they haven’t been since 2017. The club hired former USMNT head coach Gregg Berhalter as their director of football and head coach before the 2024 MLS season concluded, and his first offseason in charge included 15 incoming signings (including Homegrowns). Chicago had 11 points through ten matches in 2024 (including their miraculous win over CF Montréal) while only scoring 11 goals and conceding 18. They’ve only improved by a single point through ten matches in 2025, but over the same period, they’ve scored 18 goals and conceded 22. Injuries have certainly played a part. The midfield has been rotating due to injuries, suspensions, and international duty, and the center back room just lost Carlos Terán to a long-term leg injury, while Sam Rogers and Jack Elliott have also dealt with injuries. It’s been anything but pretty for the Fire as they’ve gone five matches without a win, and they were at their worst in Tennessee. The 7-2 loss to Nashville was an ugly result. There is no way around it when a side concedes seven consecutive goals, two of them were penalty kicks, in less than 57 minutes. The match at GEODIS Park was the first time Chicago looked like the considerably lesser MLS side on the pitch in 2025. It was also the first time the Fire have shown the character to create two goals late to ensure that their result wasn’t one of the most lopsided in MLS history. The Fire’s goal in 2025 should be to make the playoffs. They’re only a point out of the MLS playoff spots despite plenty of frustrating results in their ten matches so far in 2025. Is it time to panic? Absolutely not. This side still hasn’t won a home match despite having Major League Soccer’s joint-top goalscorer in Hugo Cuypers and Jonathan Bamba’s five assists. Philip Zinckernagel has shown promise, and it appears the midfield is slowly getting itself into rhythm as players are returning from injury. The season isn’t over by any means, but the Fire need to begin collecting positive results consistently at home or they will be spending the final months of the season fighting for a Wild Card spot, which isn’t where any stable MLS franchise wants to be. Conceding seven goals can either be an igniter of positive change or it can send a franchise down a slide that ends at the bottom of the standings. It is now up to this Chicago Fire side to show that they’re the catalysts for positive change because the honeymoon period from their offseason of change has ended. What’s On Tap Next? The Fire will host Orlando City at Soldier Field on May 3. The match is scheduled to kick off at 7:30 p.m. CT and will be broadcast on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV+.