Chicago Fire vs Nashville SC
Match recap
Chicago Fire beat Nashville SC 1–0 in their Major League Soccer fixture. Zinckernagel scored for Chicago Fire. Expected-goals data put the chance balance at 1.18 for Chicago Fire versus 0.79 for Nashville SC.
Fipster’s pre-match call
Predicted
3-2 Chicago Fire win
Actual
1–0
Outcome probability
Chicago Fire and Nashville SC are set for a pulsating MLS regular season match, with both teams boasting potent attacking options. Expect a closely fought contest with plenty of goals and end-to-end action.
Match factors
Chicago Fire missing key midfielders D'Avilla and Lod
Both confirmed out, reducing midfield creativity and goal threat
Nashville's prolific forwards challenge Chicago's defense
Surridge and Mukhtar's scoring form pressures Chicago's backline
Chicago Fire's home scoring streak supports predicted win
Scored in last 5 home games, averaging nearly 2 goals per game
Maren Haile-Selassie's recent scoring and assisting form
Has 5 goals and 3 assists in last 10 games, key to Chicago's attack
Philip Zinckernagel's creative role pivotal for Chicago Fire
Top assister with 8 assists, links midfield to attack effectively
The context
This fixture is part of the MLS regular season's sixth round, where both teams are eager to climb the standings. Chicago Fire have shown strong home scoring form recently, while Nashville SC rely heavily on their prolific forwards to challenge opponents.
Key insights
Hugo Cuypers
Chicago Fire
Leads Chicago Fire scoring with 13 goals, showing strong home scoring form and key attacking role.
Major League Soccer 26/2713 goals in 11 appearances, 1.18 avg per game
Maren Haile-Selassie
Chicago Fire
Double-digit goals and assists this season, crucial for Chicago's recent attacking momentum.
Major League Soccer 26/2710 goals and 6 assists in 28 appearances
Philip Frigast Zinckernagel
Chicago Fire
Top assister with 8 assists, pivotal creative midfielder linking play effectively.
Major League Soccer 26/278 assists in 27 appearances, 0.3 avg per game
Samuel Surridge
Nashville SC
Nashville's leading scorer with 16 goals, consistently threatening opposition defenses.
Major League Soccer 26/2716 goals in 22 appearances, 0.73 avg per game
Hany Mukhtar
Nashville SC
Key attacking figure with 14 goals and 6 assists, strong home form and playmaking.
Major League Soccer 26/2714 goals and 6 assists in 28 appearances
Analysis
Chicago Fire's home scoring streak, averaging nearly two goals per game in their last five home matches, gives them a solid attacking edge. Key players like Hugo Cuypers and Maren Haile-Selassie have been instrumental, with Cuypers netting 13 goals this season and Haile-Selassie contributing both goals and assists. Philip Zinckernagel's creative midfield playmaking further bolsters their offensive threat. Nashville SC, however, will not be pushovers; their forwards Samuel Surridge and Hany Mukhtar have been in fine form, combining for 30 goals this season and posing a constant threat to Chicago's defence. The absence of Chicago's midfielders D'Avilla and Lod could impact their creativity, but their attacking depth should compensate. The predicted 3-2 scoreline reflects a competitive, high-tempo match with both sides finding the net.
Key facts
- 1.Chicago Fire have scored in their last 5 home games, averaging nearly 2 goals per game.
- 2.Hugo Cuypers leads Chicago Fire with 13 goals this season, showing strong home form.
- 3.Maren Haile-Selassie has contributed 10 goals and 6 assists, key to Chicago's attack.
- 4.Philip Zinckernagel tops Chicago's assists with 8, pivotal in midfield creativity.
- 5.Nashville SC's Samuel Surridge has 16 goals, while Hany Mukhtar has 14 goals and 6 assists.
- 6.Chicago Fire are missing key midfielders D'Avilla and Lod due to injury.
- 7.In 10 head-to-head meetings, Nashville SC have won 6, Chicago Fire 2, with 2 draws.
Prediction
We anticipate Chicago Fire to clinch a narrow 3-2 victory over Nashville SC. The match is expected to be a goal fest, with Chicago's home scoring prowess and creative midfield likely to tip the scales in their favour despite Nashville's attacking threat.
Player Insights
Standout players Fipster expects to impact the match — curated highlights, not full squad lists
Home — Chicago Fire
Away — Nashville SC
The verdict
In summary, this MLS clash promises excitement and goals, with Chicago Fire's home form and attacking talents giving them the edge. Nashville SC will push hard, but the Fire are favoured to emerge victorious in a thrilling 3-2 encounter.
Prediction generated 13 Oct 2026, 23:50 UTC · Fipster Model v1.163
Form as the teams went into this match — excludes this result and anything since.
Team Comparison
Season shape — attack, defence, form, clean sheets & win rate
Home vs Away comparison
Goal difference in each of the last few fixtures — above the line is a net win, below is a net loss
Season comparison
Goals scored & conceded, goal difference and clean sheets across the season
Halftime Performance
What each side does once the whistle goes for half time
Streaks
Recent-form runs — each side’s most-recent game meets in the middle
Head to Head
Zinckernagel
Assist: Bamba
Corcoran
Muyl
Elliott
Salétros
Yellow Card
D'Avilla
Yellow Card
Lovitz
Espinoza
Tagseth
Yellow Card
Haile-Selassie
Tagseth
Zinckernagel
Match Statistics
Chicago Fire
4-4-2Starting XI
- 1C. BradyG
- 2Leonardo BarrosoD
- 3J. ElliottD
- 4M. MbokaziD
- 6A. SalétrosM
- 7M. Haile-SelassieF
- 11P. ZinckernagelM
- 15A. GutmanD
- 17R. LodF
- 19J. BambaM
- 42T. D'AvillaM
Substitutes
- 12P. DithejaneF
- 14V. RadojevićD
- 20Jason ShokalookF
- 22M. PinedaD
- 24J. DeanM
- 35S. OregelM
- 38Christopher CuppsD
- 44J. CohenG
Nashville SC
4-4-2Starting XI
- 2D. LovitzD
- 3M. WoledziD
- 4J. PalaciosD
- 7C. EspinozaM
- 9S. SurridgeF
- 10H. MukhtarF
- 16M. CorcoranM
- 19A. MuylM
- 20E. TagsethM
- 31A. NajarD
- 99B. SchwakeG
Substitutes
- 1J. WillisG
- 5J. MaherD
- 6B. AcostaM
- 8P. YazbekM
- 17W. PaciusF
- 22T. WilliamsD
- 27R. Baker-WhitingD
- 37A. QasemF
- 41W. MadrigalF
Chicago Fire
| Player | Pos | Min | Rating | G | A | Shots | SoT | Key Passes | Dribbles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philip Zinckernagel | M | 89 | 8.3 | 1 | — | 2 | 2 | — | 2/2 |
| Jonathan Bamba | M | 90 | 7.9 | — | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2/2 |
| Mbekezeli Mbokazi | D | 90 | 7.9 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Andrew Gutman | D | 90 | 7.3 | — | — | — | — | 1 | — |
| Chris Brady | G | 90 | 7.2 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Maren Haile-Selassie | F | 81 | 6.9 | — | — | — | — | 3 | 2/4 |
| Robin Lod | F | 90 | 6.9 | — | — | — | — | 1 | — |
| Leonardo Barroso | D | 90 | 6.7 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Dje Tah D'Avilla | M | 90 | 6.7 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1/2 |
| Anton Salétros | M | 90 | 6.6 | — | — | — | — | 1 | — |
| Jack Elliott(C) | D | 62 | 6.6 | — | — | — | — | — | 1/1 |
| Substitutes | |||||||||
| Jonathan Dean | M | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Sergio Oregel | M | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Josh Cohen | G | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Puso Dithejane | F | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Mauricio Pineda | D | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Christopher Cupps | D | 28 | 6.9 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Viktor Radojević | D | 8 | 6.7 | — | — | — | — | — | 0/1 |
| Jason Shokalook | F | 9 | 6.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 0/1 |
Nashville SC
| Player | Pos | Min | Rating | G | A | Shots | SoT | Key Passes | Dribbles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andy Najar | D | 90 | 7.9 | — | — | — | — | 2 | 3/3 |
| Maxwell Woledzi | D | 90 | 7.2 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Jeisson Palacios | D | 90 | 6.9 | — | — | 2 | 1 | — | — |
| Hany Mukhtar(C) | F | 90 | 6.9 | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | 1/1 |
| Matthew Corcoran | M | 61 | 6.9 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — |
| Edvard Sandvik Tagseth | M | 89 | 6.7 | — | — | — | — | — | 1/2 |
| Brian Schwake | G | 90 | 6.6 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Daniel Lovitz | D | 78 | 6.2 | — | — | — | — | 1 | — |
| Alex Muyl | M | 61 | 6.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 0/1 |
| Sam Surridge | F | 90 | 6.0 | — | — | 2 | 1 | — | 0/1 |
| Cristian Espinoza | M | 78 | 5.7 | — | — | — | — | — | 0/1 |
| Substitutes | |||||||||
| Thomas Williams | D | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Jack Maher | D | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Bryan Acosta | M | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Joe Willis | G | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Reed Baker-Whiting | D | 12 | 6.9 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Patrick Yazbek | M | 29 | 6.9 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Warren Madrigal | F | 29 | 6.7 | — | — | 2 | 1 | 1 | — |
| Ahmed Qasem | F | 12 | 6.3 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Woobens Pacius | F | 10 | 6.2 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Prediction Q&A
- Who did Fipster predict to win Chicago Fire vs Nashville SC?
- Fipster's AI model predicted Chicago Fire to win against Nashville SC.
- What score did Fipster predict for Chicago Fire vs Nashville SC?
- Fipster predicted a final score of Chicago Fire 3–2 Nashville SC.
- What were the win probabilities for Chicago Fire vs Nashville SC?
- Fipster's model gave Chicago Fire a 47% chance of winning, Nashville SC a 26% chance, and a 27% chance of a draw.
- How confident was Fipster in this prediction?
- Fipster's model assigned this prediction 47% confidence — a medium-confidence call.