- 1997
- 1998
- 2000
- 2001
- 2003
- 2006
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Fire FC Team Formation
Founded in 1997 at Navy Pier, on the anniversary of the Great Fire, the Fire immediately tapped into the diverse ethnic makeup of the city. The team brought in Polish players Piotr Nowak, Jerzy Podbrozny, and Roman Kostecki; the Mexican Jorge Campos; and the Czech Lubos Kubik. While all showed their talent while playing for Chicago that first year, American ... -
1998 MLS Champs
MLS Cup 1998 was the third edition of the MLS Cup, the championship match of Major League Soccer (MLS), which took place on October 25, 1998, at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. It was contested by D.C. United, the two-time reigning champions, and the Chicago Fire, the first expansion team to reach the final. Chicago won the match 2–0, ... -
Chicago Fire FC club wins its second U.S. Open Cup
In 2000: The Chicago Fire FC club wins its second U.S. Open Cup, beating Miami Fusion 2-1 in the final. The club also finishes first in the Central Division and second overall in the league, but loses to Kansas City Wizards in the MLS Cup Final. -
Chicago Fire club finishes first in the Central Division
In 2001: The Chicago Fire club finishes first in the Central Division and second overall in the league again, but loses to Los Angeles Galaxy in the MLS Cup Semi-Finals. The club also reaches the U.S. Open Cup Semi-Finals but loses to New England Revolution. -
Chicago’s Third U.S. Open Cup Championship
In 2003: The club wins its third U.S. Open Cup, beating MetroStars 1-0 in the final. The club also finishes first in the Eastern Conference and overall in the league, but loses to San Jose Earthquakes in the MLS Cup Final. The club also wins its first Supporters’ Shield as the best regular-season team. -
Another U.S. Open Cup Victory
In 2006: The Chicago Fire club wins its fourth U.S. Open Cup, beating Los Angeles Galaxy 3-1 in the final. The club also finishes third in the Eastern Conference and fourth overall in the league, reaching the MLS Cup Semi-Finals, but losing to New England Revolution2. The club also moves to its new home stadium, Toyota Park (now SeatGeek Stadium), ...
History of the Fire FC
Chicago Fire FC is one of the most storied teams in Major League Soccer (MLS). Founded in 1997, they are the founding members of MLS and have won numerous titles. The team has been a perennial powerhouse since its inception and has established itself as one of the top teams in both MLS and North American soccer.
The Chicago Fire's first season was incredibly successful, with them winning their first-ever title - the Lamar Hunt U.S Open Cup - just two months into their inaugural season. They followed this by winning an unprecedented double that same year, claiming both Supporters' Shield for best regular-season record and capturing their second trophy with victory at MLS Cup '98 against DC United on penalty kicks! This success continued throughout the early 2000s when they added another US Open Cup title with four more conference championships before finally lifting a historic treble during 2006/07, which included three trophies: US Open Cup, Supporter’s Shield & Eastern Conference Championship!
Lastly, it would be remiss not to mention some individual accomplishments from players who made history wearing a Chicago Fire shirt, such as Brian McBride becoming the all-time leading scorer or Cuauhtémoc Blanco being named league MVP twice while also setting records for assists & goals scored during his time at club level respectively! All these successes make Chicago Fire FC one of America's premier clubs that should be respected by any sports fan, regardless of whether you're from Windy City.
Fire FC Products
Established
1997
City
Chicago
League History
1998 – Present / Major League Soccer
Team History
1998 – Present / Chicago Fire FC
Nickname
Chicago Fire FC – Chicago Fire FC is an iconic Major League Soccer (MLS) team that has existed since 1998. The club’s name and logo are inspired by the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, which destroyed many cities. But what many people don’t know is where exactly did this nickname come from?
The original inspiration for the name comes from owner Andrew Hauptman's grandfather, who survived World War II in Europe as a young boy with his family by hiding in abandoned buildings during air raids. During these times, he witnessed firsthand how fire could be used as both destruction and protection at once—a powerful image that resonated deeply with him throughout his life.
With this story in mind, when Hauptman purchased Chicago's MLS franchise rights in 1997, he wanted to honor his grandfather's experience while paying homage to one of America’s most historic cities: Chicago! Thus came about “Chicago Fire FC."
Not only does it pay tribute to its namesake, but it also serves as a reminder for us all: no matter how difficult our circumstances may be, we can always find strength within ourselves if we look deep enough inside our hearts!
Championship
MLS Cups 1
1998
Stadium
1998 - 2001, 2003 - 2005, 2020 – Present / Soldier Stadium
2006 - 2019 / SeatGeek Stadium
2002 - 2003 / Cardinal Stadium
Owner
2019 - Present / Jos Mansueto
2007 - 2019 / Andrew Hauptman (Andell Holdings)
1997 - 2007 / Anschutz Entertainment Group
To qualify as the greatest player for this team, the player must have played one season for this team. If not, we will remove the player.
* verifies that player has played for this team as an added player by a fan.
Retired Number
*Blue is this team’s history
