John and Tim chat at The Bonfire in the wake of Gregg Berhalter's side moving to 1-1-1 with a draw in Columbus. Chris Mueller starts up top after Hugo Cuypers sat out with an injury. The Fire return to 3 in the back and keep a clean sheet against a Crew side that historically puts goals past Chicago's Keepers. Chris Brady gave a strong performance against a side that generated 1.7xG.

John and Tim gather 'round The Bonfire and look ahead to Columbus, where the Fire take on the Crew this weekend. Joe Mansueto breaks ground on the club's new, privately funded home at The 78.

John and Tim join around The Bonfire and recap the Fire's first home win of the season. Jonathan Dean was sent off for a denial of goal scoring opportunity, but Gregg Berhalter's side added to Montréal's woes and saw out a 3-0 victory. Jonathan Bamba returns to the starting XI alongside Captain Jack Elliot, and Mauricio Pineda.

Hot Takes LIVE is back! Join founder of MIR97, Matt Shableman, as he brings together a whole new crew of Fire sickos who rant, rave, and argue over YOUR Hot Takes. This week, Matt, Alan, and Daniel talk who's vital to the squad? Is Lewa the answer? Anyone on the team already a bust? Fire a top 3 team????

Find us LIVE on the last Thursday of every month at https://www.youtube.com/@meninred97

The Fire are back at Soldier Field this Saturday for a matinée – appropriately against CF Montréal. John and Tim talk Montréal's season opener in what they could only call a "thumping," who will likely be back from injury for the Fire and talk about formations and tactics for the home opener. They also shout out the imminent return of the Boys II Men In Red, as Fire II take on Inter Miami II on Friday.

John and Tim welcome MIR 97 Founder Matt Shabelman around the Bonfire to review what went wrong in the Fire's first action of the 2026. Houston recovered in the second half after Hugo Cuypers open his account in the first half.

Get in your Hot Takes for the first Hot Takes LIVE of 2026, Live on the MIR97 YouTube page the last Thursday every month: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfa69MnIXpPxQIRybHC9dq_xyMMh-IO3S9-4bynf3C9WiCNmA/viewform

John sits down with Tim and Joseph Lowery of Backheeled.com to kick off the 2026 campaign as the Fire travel to Houston to open the season on Saturday. Omari Glasgow is loaned to Monterey Bay FC in the USL. The Fire release their new home kit that maintains the classic look of the club. Then, the guys preview the 2026 Chicago Fire season.

https://www.backheeled.com/author/joseph-lowery/

The Fire head to the Coachella Valley Invitational and open the last stage of preseason with a 3-2 win over the LA Galaxy as Mbokazi sees his debut for the Fire.

John and Tim pull a chair up to The Bonfire to recap a quiet week in FireLand.  Puso Dithejane will join the club for the next stretch of preseason. Pumas make a bid for Philip Zinkernagel, but are rejected by Chicago. MLS exports more players to Europe while continuing to acquire more talent this transfer window. Apple TV and MLS announce reductions to Spanish language broadcasts; where's the content? MLS signs partnership with Polymarket, an online, prediction market.

John and Tim bundle up around The Bonfire while dreaming of being in Florida while reviewing two preseason wins for the Men in Red. Fire are sitting on $5.1M in GAM, what does that mean for the club in 2026?