Orlando City Hosts Chicago Fire in Crucial MLS Showdown

ORLANDO, Florida — Orlando City SC will face Chicago Fire FC at Exploria Stadium on Sunday, June 1, 2025, as both teams look to recover from recent defeats in Major League Soccer (MLS).

Orlando City, positioned fifth in the Eastern Conference with 27 points from 16 matches, hopes to bounce back after losing 3-2 to Atlanta United. The Lions have had a strong start to the season under manager Oscar Pareja, who has guided them to seven wins and only three losses in the campaign.

“We’ve had a good start this season, but we need to recover from the last loss,” Pareja said. “Playing at home is always an advantage for us. We aim to maintain our unbeaten home record and extend our winning streak against Chicago.” Orlando has not lost to Chicago in their last eight meetings.

Chicago Fire is currently struggling, sitting at 11th place with 19 points from 14 games. They recently ended a four-game winning streak with a disappointing 3-1 defeat to New York City FC. Coach Gregg Berhalter’s side has won only seven of their previous 23 encounters with Orlando City and last secured a victory against them in July 2021.

The Fire are also looking to boost their season performance after a dismal showing in 2024, where they finished at the bottom of the Eastern Conference. “We need to turn this around quickly if we want to compete for a playoff spot,” Berhalter stated. “Orlando is a tough opponent, especially at their home ground, so we must put our best foot forward.”

In terms of lineup news, Orlando City will miss several key players due to injuries, including Paulo Araujo and the suspended midfielder. Chicago Fire will also be without a few players, including two injured leaders in their defense.

The match kicks off at 7:30 PM EST, and Orlando City will be aiming to reclaim their momentum as they search for their first MLS Cup title. The stakes are high as both teams look to secure crucial points in the playoff race.