The Fire went to SeatGeek and walked away with a convincing 2-0 win over Necaxa, giving the team their first W over Liga MX competition in nearly two decades.John and Tim break it all down, including what they liked about the 4-4-2 and the team's squad rotation in a game where both fullbacks scored goals and guys like Puso Dithejane and Sergio Oregel Jr. shined.

Right after MLS got back... it's stopping for a break. This time, though, the Fire won't be getting a break as they face three opponents in the Leagues Cup in the first time they've been in the tournament in its current format. Before getting into that, though: The league is getting a new commish! Larry Berg was named longtime MLS Commissioner Don Gaber's successor. John and Tim talk about what might be in store from the new guy before talking about what Garber accomplished in his 27 years on the job.  Then to get into the Leagues Cup spirit, the duo talk to Leagues Cup Executive Director Tom Mayo about what fans can look forward to in this year's edition of the tournament which includes, for the first time, games hosted in Mexico. After talking to Tom, they break down the what to look for from the Fire in the competition and in their first game against Necaxa at SeatGeek on Thursday.

The goals came. Robert Lewandowski scored his first goal for the Chicago Fire and then he added his second against Charlotte FC in their first home game since May. John and Tim talk about what went right for the Fire in the game that saw Lewy become the fourth Fire player to bag a brace in his home opener, adding to the list that Frank Klopas started in 1998.Surprisingly, it's John who decides that it can't be all sunshine and rainbows in Fire land, questioning how good the win was. That gets Tim to dig into into what Berhalter changed up and what it did to make everyone from Lewandowski to Djé D'Avilla look a lot better than they did last week at Yankee Stadium.

With two tough losses in the Fire's first two games back from the World Cup break, John and Tim call for reinforcements. With Alex Calabrese, Alex Campbell and Joe Chatz around The Bonfire, the group discusses what they saw in a forgettable 3-1 loss at Yankee Stadium – hopefully the Fire's last-ever in that venue.The quintet then talks about what's made the Lewandowski era get off to a rough start – and what it'll take to right the ship, with a busy stretch including Leagues Cup on the horizon.

Robert Lewandowski makes his debut in Miami and doesn't score in a game where the Fire looked like the rustier of the two teams coming off of a two-month break. To talk about what they did and didn't see in Miami, John and Tim rope in Arman Kafai of Footy Analytic Musings.With Arman, one of the smartest guys in the business at the Bonfire for the first time, Tim and John use it as an opportunity to talk about everything that didn't seem to go right on a hot humid night in Miami. Give it a listen for Arman's insights, and remember: However bad your day is going, at least you didn't whiff on a slow back pass as bad as bad as Rocco Rios Novo did in front of hundreds of thousands of people around the globe.

And just like that, he's gone. Hot on the heels of Lewandowski's arrival, Hugo Cuypers departs for CF Monterrey in a deal we were told came together fast. Where does that leave the Fire? What does it mean for the rest of their season? What does it mean for their transfer window? Joe Chatz joins John and Tim as they break it all down – while trying to avoid breaking down. Join the trio as they process it all and then give the least tactically-sophisticated preview of the Fire's upcoming game this Wednesday at the new Nu Stadium against Inter Miami.

Lewy is here! In Chicago! We have photographic proof! John and Tim are joined by special guest Andrew Claussen from Backheeled. The duo pick Andrew's tactical brain as they talk about hopes — and fears — for the Fire's biggest signing in history ahead of his all-but-certain debut on Thursday, along with what made Spain so good at strangling France's potent attack in a World Cup semifinal.Oh — and a game on Thursday! Andrew gets John and Tim to join in a chorus of saying complimenting Vancouver — and Andrew, unbidden, sneaks in a complement to the Fire in doing so. They talk about why this feels like a must-win even though with both teams at or near the top of their conferences, it isn't.

MLS is back! The Fire are unveiling Lewandowski on Tuesday! They have a game on Thursday! And no, the World Cup isn't over yet! John and Tim talk about the Round of 16 exits by the USMNT (and get in to a bit with Mexico) before diving in to a mailbag full of questions about what's in store for the rest of the Fire's season  — and Lewandowski's impending arrival.

Matt, Alan and Parker emerge from a World Cup induced haze to talk about the World Cup. Good job boys, that's progress. As the 2026 edition of the tournament approaches the half way point, are you picking Spain or France to take it all? Or maybe someone else? Will the Golden Boot come to MLS via Messi, or will Mbappé going to run away with it?  Parker plays back the predictions the crew made before the World Cup kicked off, any bets how they did? Recorded LIVE June 25th, 2026!

Special guest Tom Bogert — now an official friend of the pod — joins John and Tim as Robert Lewandowski's move to the Chicago Fire moves frum rumor to official. Tom and Tim talk about what they know — with a deal all but confirmed but no ink on paper as of the time of recording.The trio then discuss what Lewandowski's signing would mean for the Fire, both on and off the pitch: What does Lewy's arrival mean for Hugo Cuypers, the Fire's Golden Boot-leading striker? Will two prove to be a dynamic duo, or will Hugo find himself in a new uniform before the end of the season? Tom then talks about his reporting with Paul Tenorio about the Fire's continued pursuit of German midfielder Leon Goretzka, confirmed to be moving on from Bayern and currently with the German National Team as they seek to advance in the World Cup.Speaking of — for the first time ever, two Chicago Fire players met on opposing sides of a World Cup match, as Joel Waterman's CanMNT teammates arranged for the World Cup exit for Mbekezeli Mbokazi and Bafana Bafana.