Chicago Fire vs. Atlanta United: Gameday Guide and How to Watch

Let’s start with this bit of business: If you’re going to tonight’s match between the Chicago Fire and Atlanta United at Soldier Field (WGN-TV/CFFC Live), get there early. The City of Chicago is hosting a fireworks show tonight all along the lakefront, and traffic is going to be a disaster as we get closer to the 7 p.m. kickoff.

If you do arrive early, there will be plenty to do. The Fire are hosting a “Day of Futbol,” which coincides with the opening of the Burnham Downs tailgate area on the east lawn. They’ll be showing the England-Ukraine match at 2 p.m., there are games for kids and concessions for sale, and Arlo White, Tony Meola, and Tyler Terens are scheduled for a Q&A session. The Fire are giving away patches featuring the new logo to the first 10,000 fans, and they’ll have their own, post-match fireworks show.

As for the actual match, the Fire are looking to build on their three goal performance against the Philadelphia Union last weekend, and find a way to take all three points tonight against the Five Stripes. Captain Francisco Calvo just left on Gold Cup with Costa Rica, and Gastón Giménez is still with Paraguay at the Copa America, so the Fire will have to plug those two holes.

Atlanta should have star forward Josef Martinez back in the lineup today, after his Copa America run with Venezuela came to a close. He’s listed as questionable for “fitness” reasons, but it’s a good bet he’ll play.

If you’re watching on TV, it’s Arlo White’s final match on the broadcast for the 2021 season. Maybe he’ll finally get to call a Chicago Fire victory.

Chicago Fire vs. Atlanta United

MLS Match #11 | Saturday, July 3 | Soldier Field, Chicago

Kickoff: 7 p.m. CT

TV: WGN-TV - with Arlo White, Tony Meola, and Tyler Terens on the call

Chicago Area Steaming: CFFC Live - free at ChicagoFireFC.com or the Chicago Fire mobile app for fans living in the Chicago TV market

Out of Market Streaming: ESPN+ (use our link to subscribe and help support Hot Time!)

Radio: TUDN 1200AM

Live Twitter Updates: @HotTimeOldTown

Chicago Fire Injuries & Absences

• OUT: Gaston Gimenez (international duty)
• OUT: Stanislav Ivanov (left knee)
• OUT: Kenneth Kronholm (right knee)
• OUT: Carlos Teran (right shin)
• QUESTIONABLE: Wyatt Omsberg (left hip)

Atlanta United Injuries & Absences

• OUT: Matheus Rossetto (lower body)
• OUT: Emerson Hyndman (torn ACL)
• OUT: Franco Ibarra (lower body)
• OUT: Jurgen Damm (lower body)
• QUESTIONABLE: Josef Martinez (fitness)

Next up for the Fire

Wednesday, July 7 - Chicago Fire vs. Orlando City at Soldier Field, Chicago (7 p.m. CT, UniMas)

Saturday, July 17 - Nashville SC vs. Chicago Fire at Nissan Stadium, Nashville, TN (7:30 p.m. CT, WGN-TV/CFFC Live)

Wednesday, July 21 - Chicago Fire vs. D.C. United at Soldier Field, Chicago (7 p.m. CT, WGN-TV/CFFC Live)

Saturday, July 24 - Chicago Fire vs. Toronto FC at Soldier Field, Chicago (7 p.m. CT, WGN-TV/CFFC Live)