Feed the Fire: A Chicago Fire Podcast

Hey, soccer fans! Let's talk about it - the USMNT lost to Belgium in the FIFA World Cup. It was their worst performance of the tournament by far. The Yanks never looked into the game, playing disjointed on offense and scrambling on defense. Not one of the Americans had a stand out performance, and ultimately, defense errors by Tim Ream, Chris Richards, and Matt Freese led to the Red Devils running...

Hey, soccer fans! Falorin Balogun is eligible to play for the United States against Belgium in the World Cup. That's right! The FIFA Disciplinary Committee suspended his one-match ban after he received a red card vs. Bosnia-Herzegovina. Ultimately, he never should've seen red and FIFA is rectifying a complete error from their officiating crew, but the situation has soccer fans, pundits, and the Be...

Hey, soccer fans! Robert Lewandowski signed with the Chicago Fire! A legend of the game is coming to the Windy City to play with your Men in Red. Nick is overly excited but somehow manages to break down what this means for the club and for Major League Soccer. The Polish striker is sure to have an immediate and positive impact on the pitch for the Men in Red - this is now officially their trophy w...

Hey, soccer fans! Still waiting on Robert Lewandowski transfer news? In this episode, Nick presents his conspiracy theory as to why the potential signing has not yet been announced. It involves everything from a large Hugo Cuypers transfer feee to a departing Jonathan Bamba, and from a Leon Goretzka move to not sharing the spotlight with the World Cup and USMNT at the instruction of MLS league off...

Hey, soccer fans! The USMNT has already won their World Cup 2026 group with one game left to play. With nothing at stake as far as tournament standings go, how should the Yanks approach their final group stage match against Turkey: Keep the momentum going? Rotate the squad? Nick gives his opinions on the tactics, the starting line-up, and breaks down possible opponents in the knock-out rounds. Tun...

Hey, soccer fans! Despite loving the FIFA World Cup as the greatest sporting event in the world, Nick has a few things that he just can't stand about the tournament this year. Tune in as he rants about how mandatory hydration breaks are fundamentally changing the game of soccer into an Americanized commercial trap, how the expanded 48-team field has watered down the quality of the tournament, how...

Hey, soccer fans! The United States Men's National Team put on a historic performance against Paraguay in their openeing match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, defeating the South American side 4-1. An own goal got the scoring started for the Yanks, but Falorin Balogun bagged a brace, and Gio Reyna pitched in, as well. The USMNT dominated all stages of the game, coming out strong, controlling the pace,...

Hey, soccer fans! World Cup Season is here! The tournament has kicked off and we've got two matches in the books. Nick gives you his takes on Mexico vs. South Africa and South Korea vs. Czechia, including breaking down the stats, the goals and highlights, and the stand out performers. He also shares his favorites memories from watching past World Cups. Make sure to follow the show to keep up with...

Hey, soccer fans! Let's get back to some good old fashioned Major League Soccer news. And what better way to start than with coaching updates: Jim Curtin takes over Austin FC, Pep Guardiola turns down Inter Miami CF, and Phil Neville is out as the manager of the Portland Timbers. Tune in as Nick gives his thoughts on all these moves. Nick also breaks down MLS transfer news, the Chicago Fire player...

Hey, soccer fans! Nick is back with more World Cup and Chicago Fire content! In this episode, he notes the record 44 Major League Soccer players that will appear at the 2026 World Cup, including the three from the Chicago Fire: Chris Brady, Joel Waterman, and Mbekezeli Mbokazi. He also looks back at the other four Men in Red players who also played in a World Cup or two during their tenure with th...

Hey, soccer fans! Feed the Fire pivots to World Cup 2026 coverage, and in this episode, Nick gives us his overview of the tournament. He breaks down the countries by their FIFA rankings and odds to win their groups and the entire tournament. He gives us choice matches that could occur and gives his hopes for the United States Men's National Team (USMNT). With the expanded field to 48 teams, this W...

Hey, soccer fans! Time to pivot to World Cup coverage and analysis! Nick starts with a breakdown of the roster as selected by head coach of the USMNT, Mauricio Pochettino. Stars like Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, and Tyler Adams are no surprise, but the inclusion of Tim Ream, Cristian Roldan, and Max Arfsten have people questioning their value and role on the team. Omissions of Diego Luna an...

Hey, soccer fans! Nick is back talking Chicago Fire after a short hiatus - for all good things. Tune in as he gives a survey of the Men in Red's recent three-game win streak, identifying trends in tactics and performance, discussing the players that stepped up during the run, and what needs to continue into the second half of the Major League Soccer season. Nick also takes a deep dive into the Fir...

Hey, soccer fans! Feed the Fire welcomes Clint Mathis to the show! He talks about his career in Major League Soccer, his time with the US Men's National Team, and how the game has changed during and since his playing days. Tune in as Nick and Clint relive some of his best moments but also explore how Clint made the transition to a career after soccer. Clint also gives us his take on the latest soc...

Hey, soccer fans! The Chicago Fire got a big win in the nation's capital, defeating DC United 3-1 in the rain. They learned from their loss to Red Bulls, generated more attacking momentum, put in early and impactful subs, and came away with the victory. Goals by Robin Lod, Hugo Cuypers (of course!), and Maren Haile-Selassie were enough to overcome a first half goal by Tai Baribo. Tune in as Nick b...

Hey, soccer fans! The Chicago Fire have lost their offense and returned to mediocrity. They fall 3-1 at home to the New York Red Bulls after dominating possession but being unable to get dangerous looks on goal. The Men in Red have a serious problem in their midfield, and Robin Lod, Maren Haile-Selassie, and Dylan Borso haven't been able to fill the shoes of Brian Gutierrez and Andre Franco. Tune...

Hey, soccer fans! The Chicago Fire return to Soldier Field this weekend ready to get back in the win column. Their next opponent is a strugging New York Red Bulls team under new head coach Michael Bradley (Yes, that Michael Bradley). The Red Bulls bring a young, but talented team, with a good mix of veteran leadership. They will pose a threat to the Men in Red's backline, and the Fire should be re...

Hey, soccer fans! Do you belive in deja vu? The Chicago Fire's latest match - a loss to FC Cincinnati - sure felt like their prior outing against FCC just much worse. The Men in Red blew two one-goal leads, missed a PK in stoppage time, and conceded the game-winning PK just minutes later. Tune in as Nick vents his frustration with the lack of player execution and coaching failures. He focuses on a...

Hey, soccer fans! Nick is mad and disappointed by the Chicago Fire's loss to St. Louis City SC in the US Open Cup. He criticizes the poor performance by a number of players, the terrible in-game coaching decisions, and the overall lack of focus on what should be a goal of the organization - winning a trophy and the tournament that is rooted in Men in Red history. Tune in for all of Nick's rants an...

Hey, soccer fans! It was a wild night on the lakefront as the Chicago Fire torched Sporting Kansas City 5-0. Despite controlling the match, the scoreline remained 0-0 at halftime, and the fans were a little anxious. However, the Men in Red kept their focus and their composure and dominated their opponent in the second half. Hugo Cuypers and Philip Zinckernagel each put up a brace, while Maren Hail...

Hey, soccer fans! The Chicago Fire are back home to welcome Sporting Kansas City to Solider Field. How will the Men in Red fare against the current worst team in Major League Soccer? This should be a victory for the home side, but there will be extra incentive for former Fire manager and current SKC coach Rafa Wickey to play well. The Fire also welcome back Justin Reynolds, who has become a begun...

Hey, soccer fans! Did the Chicago Fire settle for a road draw against FC Cincinnati over the weekend? After lettinga 2-1 lead slip away, it sure felt like it. Tune in as Nick breaks down the goals, the individual brilliance, and the moments that shifted the match. He talks in detail about Mbekezeli Mbokazi's defensive strugges, Hugo Cuypers' brilliance, and the substitutions and tactical changes m...

Hey, soccer fans! The Chicago Fire - the winningest MLS team in US Open Cup history - advanced to the Round of 16 after a 2-1 victory over Detroit City FC. The Men in Red dominated the first half, and Jason Shokalook scored a brace in his first start for the Fire first team. However, a DCFC goal, a red card to Puso Dithejane, and a freight train all in the span of five minutes propelled the USL Ch...

Hey, soccer fans! Nick is back recapping the Chicago Fire's 1-0 victory over Atlanta United. The Five Stripes couldn't find the back of the net due to the outstanding defensive performances by Mbekezeli Mbokazi and Jack Elliott. Despite their pressue and opportunities, the Men in Red scored once thanks to Maren Haile-Selassie, filling in at striker for the injured Hugo Cuypers. The Fire are grindi...

Hey, soccer fans! Chicago Fire FC defeated Nashville SC 1-0 over the weekend. Since joining Major League Soccer, Nashville has gotten the best of the Men in Red, winning 9 of 10 matches. But the Fire put together a legendary performance with Mbekezeli Mbokazi, Jack Elliott, Maren Haile-Selassie, and Chris Brady deliverying highlights that will be talked about for years to come. And that's not to m...