Atlanta United welcome Robert Lewandowski and the Chicago Fire to Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday for their penultimate home game of the 2026 season. Atlanta still aren’t eliminated from playoff contention and won’t be even with a loss to the Fire. But with four matches left, all it can hope for is to play spoiler against a Chicago side hoping to finish in the top four and get home-field advantage for the first round.
The scoop on the Chicago Fire
14-10-6, 48 points, 4th in East
Last result: L 1-0 at New England Revolution (October 17)
Despite dropping their last match against the Revs, the Fire clinched a playoff spot for the second straight season after D.C. United fell 4-1 to Orlando City. Chicago haven’t been to the playoffs in consecutive years since a span of five straight years from 2004 to 2009. Gregg Berhalter deserves the credit for not just his work in the technical area, but for how he’s built this roster as the one overseeing the club’s sporting department.
It goes far beyond Robert Lewandowski, but we can’t get too far without mentioning the Polish legend and Balon d’Or runner-up in 2021. Through 15 matches, he’s on 6g/4a. After a hot start, though, he has just two assists in his last six appearances. Atlanta United will hope that he doesn’t rediscover his form on Saturday, but considering how DPs have performed against this group, that’s not out of the question.
Keep an eye on two other players, though. Maren Haile-Selassie (11g/10a) is enjoying a career season and was rewarded earlier in the month with a contract extension through 2028-29. He scored the lone goal against Atlanta in a 1-0 Fire win in April. Mbekezeli Mbokazi, who signed as a U22 initiative player in December from South African top-flight side Orlando Pirates, is the other. All the Bafana Bafana centerback has done is carve out a place for himself as one of the league’s elite centerbacks, and not even a thigh muscle tear did much much to hinder the 21-year-old’s progress. He was listed at No. 4 on MLS’s 22 Under 22 list released earlier in the week.
Atlanta United vs. Chicago Fire injuries, availability
Atlanta United – Will Reilly has been shut down for the rest of the year due to his ankle injury, Tata Martino said on Friday. Outside of that, all players are available.
Chicago Fire – Andre Franco, Robin Lod, and Sam Rogers are all listed as out with lower-body injuries. Jack Elliott will miss this one as well due to yellow-card accumulation.
Atlanta United’s projected lineup vs. Inter Miami (4-3-3)
Score Prediction: Atlanta United 0-2 Chicago Fire
The home struggles have been evident in 2026, and I don’t think they get better on Saturday. The Fire come in and hand Atlanta yet another loss at the Benz to strenghten their own Top 4 hopes.