Chicago Fire vs Columbus Crew Lineups, Prediction, Betting Picks & Odds
Chicago Fire vs Columbus Crew: read the lineups, prediction, best picks and odds, plus Same Game Parlay ideas and team news for Saturday's MLS game.
Jade Griffiths - November 7, 2026, 12:08 PM EST
6 minutesChicago Fire vs Columbus Crew Game Preview
Competition | Major League Soccer |
|---|---|
Game Date | Saturday, November 7, 2026 |
Game Time | 4:00 PM ET / 1:00 PM PT |
Venue (City, Stadium) | SeatGeek Stadium |
Chicago Fire host Columbus Crew at SeatGeek Stadium on Saturday, and Chicago Fire vs Columbus Crew betting odds price the Fire as -108 (BetRivers) favorites in this Major League Soccer matchup.
Chicago sit fourth in the East, and a win locks up that seed plus home-field advantage in the playoffs. Gregg Berhalter's side have the firepower to finish the job.
Columbus arrive red hot. Laurent Courtois' team have won their last five MLS games, have already clinched a playoff berth and are now chasing better postseason seeding from eighth.
The head-to-head leans Columbus' way. They are unbeaten in 9 of their last 10 games against Chicago in all competitions, a hex the Fire need to snap on Saturday.
Chicago Fire vs Columbus Crew Recent Results
Jonathan Bamba's brace powered a 4-2 win at Colorado Rapids last weekend, and the Fire have climbed into the top four in the East on the back of a strong closing run. Their games are rarely quiet, with over 2.5 goals landing in 6 of Chicago's last 7 MLS outings.
Columbus hammered DC United 3-0 at home last time out, and their late charge has been ruthless. The Crew have led at both halftime and full time over their last 4 MLS games, which tells you they are starting fast and closing games out.
Chicago Fire vs Columbus Crew Lineups & Team News
Injuries & Suspensions
Chicago Fire: Robin Lod (Injured/out), Sam Rogers (Injured/out)
Columbus Crew: Rudy Camacho (Injured/out), Wessam Abou Ali (Injured/out), Brais Méndez (Injured/doubtful)
Chicago Fire
Robert Lewandowski is the headline name for Chicago Fire vs Columbus Crew lineups, with the striker expected back to lead the line. Robin Lod and Sam Rogers are both ruled out, while Andrew Gutman and Andreas Hanche-Olsen could be recalled by Gregg Berhalter.
Columbus Crew
Center back Eric Bailly returned against DC United, and Brais Méndez could make his comeback on Saturday. Josef Martínez could return up front, and he has scored or assisted in his last 3 Major League Soccer appearances against Chicago Fire.
Chicago Fire vs Columbus Crew Predicted Lineup
Chicago Fire
Formation: 4-4-2 (probable)
Predicted Starting Lineup: Chris Brady; Jonathan Dean, Mbekezeli Mbokazi, Andreas Hanche-Olsen, Andrew Gutman; Philip Zinckernagel, Djé D'Avilla, Anton Salétros, Jonathan Bamba; Robert Lewandowski, Maren Haile-Selassie (probable)
Columbus Crew
Formation: 3-4-3 (probable)
Predicted Starting Lineup: Patrick Schulte; Steven Moreira, Sean Zawadzki, Malte Amundsen; Mohamed Farsi, Dylan Chambost, Sékou Bangoura, Anass Zaroury; Taha Habroune, Josef Martínez, Santiago Rodríguez (probable)
Chicago Fire vs Columbus Crew Key Stats & Game Facts
- Chicago Fire have received 2+ cards in 9 of their last 10 games against Columbus Crew (Major League Soccer).
- Columbus Crew have scored 2+ goals in 8 of their last 8 games (Major League Soccer).
- Hugo Cuypers has scored in 9 of his last 10 appearances (Major League Soccer).
- Diego Rossi has attempted 3+ shots in 6 of his last 7 appearances against Chicago Fire (Major League Soccer).
- There have been 9+ shots on target in 4 of the last 5 meetings between Chicago Fire and Columbus Crew (Major League Soccer).
Chicago Fire vs Columbus Crew Prediction & Best Picks
Our Prediction
Our Chicago Fire vs Columbus Crew prediction is a home win. Chicago are built to hurt teams, with finishing, wide play and long-range shooting all among their strengths, and projections give them roughly a 51% win probability. Columbus are too hot to roll over, so expect a messy, open afternoon, but the Fire's attack at SeatGeek Stadium is the difference.
Best Picks
Chicago Fire to beat Columbus Crew. First up among Chicago Fire vs Columbus Crew best picks, we back the Fire in the Moneyline market. Chicago have scored at least two goals in their last 3 MLS games, and that kind of finishing at home is enough to trust over a Columbus side that has to come and get a result.
Both teams to score: Yes, in the Both Teams To Score market. Projections put both teams scoring at about 65%, and the trends agree. The Fire have shipped at least two goals in three straight MLS outings, and a red-hot Columbus attack is not going to fire blanks against that back line.
Chicago Fire vs Columbus Crew Same Game Parlay
Our Chicago Fire vs Columbus Crew Same Game Parlay picks stack Columbus goals, a Gonzalo Tapia score and two Philip Zinckernagel shot props for a goal-heavy afternoon.
Columbus Over 1.5 in the Total Away Goals market fits a Fire win in a shootout. The Crew have scored 2+ goals in 8 of their last 8 games in Major League Soccer.
Philip Zinckernagel Over 1.5 in the Player Shots market is about volume. The Chicago midfielder has attempted 2+ shots in 10 of his last 10 Major League Soccer outings.
Gonzalo Tapia in the Anytime Goalscorer market adds some punch. He has scored in three of his past four Major League Soccer games, so he keeps finding the net.
Philip Zinckernagel Over 0.5 in the Player Shots On Target market rounds it off. He has put at least one shot on target in five straight Major League Soccer outings, and Chicago love attacking down his right side.
Make sure to get the best odds on your Same Game Parlay with Oddschecker's Exclusive Same Game Parlay Comparison Tool.
Same Game Parlay odds correct at time of publishing.
Chicago Fire vs Columbus Crew Talking Points
The subplot writes itself. Gregg Berhalter, now running the Fire as head coach and director of football, used to be Columbus' head coach and sporting director, and he gets to face his old club with plenty on the line. A win would give Chicago a franchise single-season record of 58 points, tie the club's post-shootout-era mark for wins and hand Berhalter the best single-season win total of his MLS coaching career. Laurent Courtois' Columbus, though, are the league's top team on current form, and they would love nothing more than to spoil the party.
Chicago Fire vs Columbus Crew Predictions FAQs
When is the Chicago Fire vs Columbus Crew MLS game?
The game is on Saturday, November 7, 2026, at 4:00 PM ET / 1:00 PM PT.
Where is Chicago Fire vs Columbus Crew being played?
The game is being played at SeatGeek Stadium.
Where can I watch Chicago Fire vs Columbus Crew?
The game can be watched on Apple TV.
What formations are expected for Chicago Fire and Columbus Crew?
Chicago Fire will probably line up in a 4-4-2, while Columbus Crew are expected to use a 3-4-3.
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