New York Red Bulls and Chicago Fire play to 1-1 MLS draw

Chicago Fire FC and Red Bull New York played to a 1-1 draw on Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026, at Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, N.J. Maren Haile-Selassie's long-range strike gave the Fire a first-half lead, but the New York Red Bulls rallied for a point in a tightening Eastern Conference playoff race.

Key Takeaways

• Chicago Fire FC and Red Bull New York finished 1-1 in their Matchday 22 rematch in New Jersey on Aug. 22, 2026.
• Maren Haile-Selassie scored his fifth goal of the season with a first-half stunner from near the corner of the box.
• Chicago entered on a six-match winning streak across all competitions, while New York had lost four of five matches since the break.
• FanDuel listed Chicago as a +135 road favorite and New York at +165, signaling market confidence in the surging Fire.
• Both clubs remain in the Eastern Conference playoff hunt, with Nashville SC leading the table at 46 points.

Why Did Chicago Fire Travel to New Jersey for This Rematch?

Chicago Fire FC continued a four-game road trip with a rematch against Red Bull New York on Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026, kicking off at 6:30 p.m. CT at Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, N.J., according to the club's official matchday guide. The fixture was the 73rd regular-season meeting between the two sides, dating to the Fire's fifth MLS game—a 1-0 loss to the then-Metrostars at Soldier Field on April 17, 1998.

Chicago arrived at 11-6-2 with 35 points, riding a six-match winning streak across all competitions—its best run since 1998. The Fire had opened the road swing with a 2-1 win at Orlando City SC on Wednesday, where Robert Lewandowski converted a penalty for his third goal in three league matches. Red Bull New York entered at 7-3-4 with 25 points after a stoppage-time set-piece loss to Nashville SC at home.

Historically, Chicago holds a 33-23-16 edge over New York in MLS play, with 33 wins—the most against any opponent in club history. The Fire's most recent results against RBNY were a 1-3 home loss on May 9, 2025, and a 1-2 defeat in Harrison on April 5, 2025. Saturday's trip offered a chance to flip that recent script on New York turf.

What Happened in the Red Bulls vs. Chicago Fire Showdown?

Minutes before halftime, the match broke open—not through blockbuster signing Robert Lewandowski, but via Maren Haile-Selassie. After Chicago carried the ball wide left, Haile-Selassie received the pass near the corner of the box and fired quickly into the far right corner, beating diving goalkeeper Ethan Horvath, as reported by OneFootball.

The strike was Haile-Selassie's fifth goal of the 2026 MLS season across 21 appearances, paired with four assists. He previously won Chicago's Golden Boot with six goals in 2023. OneFootball noted that Lewandowski's arrival and output may be lifting confidence across the Fire attack—even when the Polish striker did not find the net himself.

The final whistle confirmed a 1-1 draw. Chicago had entered the weekend third in the Eastern Conference and, per OneFootball, remained positioned for a surprising push toward the top of the table after recent surges. For New York, the home point halted a stretch of four losses in five matches since the break, including a 2-1 defeat to Atlanta United FC and the late loss to Shield leaders Nashville SC.

Head coach Gregg Berhalter made eight changes from the Orlando lineup. Philip Zinckernagel returned as captain on the right wing, Robin Lod started up front alongside Jonathan Bamba, and New Jersey native Sam Williams made his first appearance of the season in midfield. Chris Brady started in goal for his 20th appearance of the year.

How Does the 1-1 Result Affect the MLS Eastern Conference Playoff Race?

Matchday 22 arrived with the playoff picture tightening on both coasts, as Metro Philadelphia reported. Nashville SC led the East at 46 points on a historic pace for points and goals against per game. Inter Miami sat second at 39 points, with Chicago third at 35 and New York eighth at 25 before kickoff.

A draw moves both clubs one step in a crowded middle of the table. New England Revolution (33 points), FC Cincinnati (30), Charlotte FC (29), and NYCFC (26) remain within striking distance of the final playoff positions. For Chicago, dropping two points on the road still preserves a top-three foothold while the Fire chase Nashville and Miami. For the Red Bulls, a home point offers breathing room above Orlando City, Toronto FC, and Columbus Crew—all tied on 20 or 21 points.

Midweek Matchday 21 underscored how volatile the race can be: Chicago beat Orlando 2-1, while New York fell 0-1 to Nashville at home. With 30 teams playing across consecutive matchdays, every point carries amplified weight heading into the season's final stretch.

What Do the Betting Markets Say About New York Red Bulls Value?

Pre-match lines from FanDuel Sportsbook, cited in Metro Philadelphia's Matchday 22 betting preview, listed Red Bull New York at +165, the draw at +290, and Chicago at +135. That pricing made the road side a slight favorite despite playing in Harrison—a reflection of Chicago's six-match winning streak and Lewandowski's hot form.

For readers who track sports markets as part of a broader wealth and passive-income strategy, the line is a snapshot of public sentiment, not a guarantee. A +135 favorite that shares points still returns less than a winning outright bet, while a +165 home underdog that draws beats the moneyline but misses the win. Understanding implied probability—roughly 42.6% for +135 and 37.7% for +165—helps frame whether a result like 1-1 aligned with market expectations.

Chicago's surge has made the Fire a narrative darling of Matchday 22, but New York's response showed why home fixtures against streaking opponents rarely follow a straight script. The Red Bulls held Nashville for 90 minutes before conceding in stoppage time midweek; against Chicago, they clawed back enough to split the points.

What Should Fans Watch Next in the Fire-RBNY Rivalry?

Chicago's road trip continues beyond Harrison, and Berhalter's rotation—eight changes from Orlando—signals a deep squad managing a congested calendar. Lewandowski, Puso Dithejane, and Djé D'Avilla remained available off the bench against New York, while Sergio Oregel Jr. and Chris Mueller were unavailable.

The all-time ledger still favors Chicago, but recent head-to-head results at Soldier Field and in New Jersey had gone New York's way in 2025. Saturday's 1-1 adds another chapter to a rivalry that spans 73 regular-season meetings and more than two decades of MLS history. With the Eastern Conference playoff race heating up, both clubs will measure every remaining fixture in points—and in the margin for error that separates third place from the bubble.