Can Sporting Kansas City end five-match losing streak against the Chicago Fire?

Raphael Wicky will face his former team, the Chicago Fire, on Saturday in MLS Week 9, as the Sporting Kansas City head coach looks to end a five-match losing streak in Chicago.

Sporting Kansas City’s skid has included losses to Western Conference rivals the Colorado Rapids, Real Salt Lake, Vancouver Whitecaps, and San Jose Earthquakes, along with a U.S. Open Cup Round of 32 defeat to USL side, the Colorado Springs Switchbacks.

After eight matches, Sporting sit last in the Western Conference with four points from 24 available. The conference is highly competitive in 2026, and the gap between Sporting Kansas City and the final playoff spot has already stretched to eight points.

The Chicago Fire, meanwhile, are in strong form. Head coach Gregg Berhalter has the team playing its best soccer in years. Chicago are fourth in the Eastern Conference with 14 points from 24. Since a 2–1 loss to D.C. United on March 15, the Fire have gone four matches unbeaten, including a 3–3 draw with FC Cincinnati on matchday No. 8.

Can Sporting Kansas City claim an away win?

Sporting Kansas City’s only win this season came on the road against the LA Galaxy, 2-1. That result was driven by striker Dejan Joveljic, who scored the opener before initiating the counterattack that led to Lasse Berg Johnsen’s goal.

Since that victory, Sporting Kansas City have regressed significantly, conceding 16 goals across their last five matches in all competitions. Defensive issues have been a constant, and performances have lacked energy.

Last weekend’s 3–0 loss away to the Vancouver Whitecaps followed a familiar pattern. Sporting conceded all three goals within the opening 30 minutes. While there were signs of improvement afterward, the match was effectively over early thanks to numerous individual errors.

Offensively, Sporting Kansas City continue to struggle. The team has scored just three goals in its last five matches in all competitions. The lowest point of the run came in the 3–0 Open Cup defeat to the Switchbacks, where Sporting were played off the pitch by lower-league opposition.

How bad have Sporting been this season?

The numbers underline Sporting Kansas City’s struggles. The club ranks 28th out of 30 MLS teams in goals scored per game, averaging 0.9.

Joveljic has been the only consistent attacking threat, with four goals and one assist. He has contributed to 71% of Sporting Kansas City’s total goal output.

Chance creation has been a major issue. Sporting rank last in MLS in expected goals (5.2), highlighting the lack of high-quality opportunities. Several goals have come from low-probability situations, including Joveljic’s strike against the LA Galaxy.

At the other end, defensive problems persist. Sporting Kansas City have conceded 20 goals, the most in the Western Conference. The team allows an average of 2.5 goals per match, ranking 26th in MLS.

How good have the Chicago Fire been in 2026?

The Chicago Fire have been steady under Berhalter in 2026. Now in his second season, the former U.S. Men’s National Team head coach has built on last year’s playoff appearance and has the Fire competing near the top of the Eastern Conference.

Chicago have recorded four wins and two draws from eight matches. While not a high-scoring team, they have been efficient, scoring 12 goals at an average of 1.5 per game.

Defensively, the Fire have been among the league’s strongest teams. They have conceded just eight goals and kept four clean sheets. Only Nashville have allowed fewer goals in the Eastern Conference, and Chicago rank among the top defensive teams in MLS.

Although the Fire do not generate a high volume of chances, they remain effective. They average 4.4 shots on target per match and create 3.0 big chances per game. Their team xG of 14.2 suggests slight underperformance in front of goal. Additionally, Chicago rank second in MLS in penalties awarded, with three.

Chicago Fire versus Sporting Kansas City H2H

The Chicago Fire and Sporting Kansas City have not met since 2024. In MLS’s early years, this matchup was one of the league’s most competitive rivalries. However, with the teams now in opposite conferences, meetings have become less frequent.

Their most recent encounter came in the 2024 Leagues Cup, where Sporting Kansas City secured a 2–1 win. Sporting have held the edge in recent meetings, recording six wins, one draw, and four losses in the last 10 matchups across all competitions.

Sporting Kansas City enter this match looking for improvement against an in-form Chicago Fire side. Their struggling attack faces one of the league’s strongest defenses. If Sporting Kansas City can take points on the road, it could shift momentum in their season. Securing a result in Chicago will be a significant test on Wicky’s return to the Windy City.

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