(Photo credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)

The Chicago Fire made it to the MLS Cup playoffs last season for the first time since 2017. They'll look to build off that and reach new heights in 2026, starting Saturday when they kick off their new campaign with a visit to the Houston Dynamo.

Chicago finished eighth in the Eastern Conference in 2025 after finishing 10th or lower in six of the seven seasons of their drought. The club defeated Orlando City in the wild-card match to advance to the first-round Best-of-3 series, where it fell to the top-seeded Philadelphia Union.

'We only made the first round, and we expected to do better,' defender Joel Waterman said. 'But it's having those conversations of where are we at now? How can we get better, both individually and collectively? ... Not just being satisfied with making playoffs. That's great, but how else can we improve?'

Last season, the Fire's 68 goals trailed only Inter Miami (81) in MLS. It was a struggle at the other end of the pitch, however, conceding 60 goals -- sixth-most in the league.

A full season of Waterman on the back line should help. Chicago acquired the 30-year-old from CF Montreal in August. In addition to feeling a competitive rejuvenation in his new home, Waterman also has his sights set on representing Canada in the World Cup. And while that serves as extra motivation, he knows that he and his MLS squad need to stay focused.

'It's just doing our job day in, day out. And I know that sounds cliche, but you have to take it a day at a time because if you go too far in advance, you might kind of stumble a little bit,' Waterman said.

Fire forward Hugo Cuypers (concussion) and midfielder Jonathan Bamba (leg) are questionable, while defender Andrew Gutman (calf) has been ruled out. Each was injured during the preseason.

The Dynamo enter a fresh start after finishing 12th in the Western Conference in 2025. Houston was one of the busiest clubs in the offseason, adding Designated Player attackers Mateusz Bogusz and Guilherme, and repatriating midfielder Hector Herrera after he spent 2025 with Liga MX side Toluca, winning a championship.

'I like the project, I like a lot of movement of the club. That's why I chose Houston,' Bogusz told mlssoccer.com. 'I know there is a lot of opportunity in Houston. Let's focus on now, and I want to come back to play good, to enjoy the time on the field. And I know if I play good, good things are going to happen.'

It's a return to MLS for the 24-year-old Bogusz, who also played last season in Liga MX. The Polish international played his first two seasons in the league (2023-24) with Los Angeles FC. After tallying just three times in 28 appearances as a rookie, he scored 15 in 32 games in 2024.

--Field Level Media