Chicago Fire FC will open the 2026 MLS Cup Playoffs against Charlotte FC on Sunday, Nov. 22, at 5:30 p.m. CT at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview, Illinois. It’s the first postseason meeting between the clubs, and fourth-seeded Chicago Fire FC will host the opener and a deciding third game if the series goes the distance.
Chicago Fire FC earned home-field advantage by finishing fourth in the Eastern Conference with 55 points and a 16-11-7 record. That’s the club’s best conference finish since 2017 and its first set of back-to-back playoff appearances since 2009. Charlotte FC enters as the No. 5 seed.
Chicago Fire FC vs. Charlotte FC playoff schedule
- Game 1 · Sunday, Nov. 22, at 5:30 p.m. CT: Chicago Fire FC hosts Charlotte FC at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview, Illinois.
- Game 2 · Saturday, Nov. 28, at 11:30 a.m. CT (12:30 p.m. ET): Charlotte FC hosts Chicago Fire FC at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina.
- Game 3, if necessary · Wednesday, Dec. 2, kickoff TBD: Chicago Fire FC hosts Charlotte FC at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview, Illinois.
Apple TV will carry every game in the series. Game 1 will also air on FS1 and FOX Deportes in the U.S. Local radio coverage is available on WLS 890 AM in English and TUDN Chicago 106.7-HD2 in Spanish. See the official MLS schedule and broadcast listings.
What to watch in the series
Chicago Fire FC won both regular-season meetings. Robert Lewandowski scored twice in his Soldier Field home debut to give Chicago Fire FC a 2–1 win on Aug. 1. The return match on Sept. 26 was tighter. Johan Gómez scored his first MLS goal in the 58th minute, and Josh Cohen kept a clean sheet in his first start for Chicago Fire FC in a 1–0 win at Bank of America Stadium, the same venue that will host Game 2.
Charlotte FC showed how quickly it can change a match. Down 3–0 at halftime on Decision Day, Charlotte FC drew 3–3 at Inter Miami CF after two early second-half goals from Liel Abada and a stoppage-time equalizer from Rodolfo Aloko. Pep Biel picked up his 18th assist of the season, the most in MLS, and joined Abada and Idan Toklomati as the club’s three double-digit scorers. Read Charlotte FC’s Decision Day recap.
Lewandowski enters the playoffs in scoring form. He converted two penalties in the 4–3 regular-season finale against Columbus Crew. Maren Haile-Selassie also scored, extending his home scoring streak to six matches.
How the best-of-three format works
The first team to win two games advances to the Eastern Conference semifinals. Each game counts on its own, and any match tied after 90 minutes goes straight to a penalty shootout. If one team wins both games in November, there’s no Game 3.
