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Former U.S men’s national team coach Gregg Berhalter will lead his new side, the Chicago Fire, against the powerful Columbus Crew on Saturday night in a season-opening Eastern Conference match in Columbus, Ohio.

Berhalter got his coaching start at Columbus from 2013-18 and led the Crew to the MLS playoffs in four of those five seasons.

The Fire have nowhere to go but up after finishing last in the East last year, collecting the second-fewest points (30) in the league. Chicago has missed the postseason every year since a Round 1 loss in 2017 and has failed to make the playoffs in the 11 of the past 12 seasons.

“The starting point is, you know, to build a world-class organization — that’s what we’re focused on,” Berhalter said. “We want a team that really develops both players and staff members. We want to unite Chicago, we want Chicago behind us, we want to capture Chicago, and we want to win.”

Berhalter has been given plenty of funds to overhaul his new side.

Expect as many as six new starters for Chicago, which went the international route in adding winger Jonathan Bamba from the Ivory Coast, fullback Leonardo Barroso from Portugal, Mali international midfielder Rominigue Kouame, and winger Philip Zinckernagel from top Danish side Brugge.

Hugo Cuypers led the Fire with 10 goals in 31 appearances in 2024 and returns looking to help the team take the next step.

Columbus, meanwhile, finished second in the Eastern Conference last season but was dispatched in the first round of the MLS playoffs by the New York Red Bulls in two games. The Crew set club records for wins (19), points (66) and goal differential (plus-32).

Columbus’ Wilfried Nancy was voted coach of the year.

Just before training camp, the Crew sent superstar forward Cucho Hernandez to LaLiga’s Real Betis for a club-record transfer fee, which reportedly could reach $16 million. Also gone are veteran striker Christian Ramirez and forward Yaw Yeboah.

Columbus added versatile Finnish international midfielder Lassi Lappalainen, who played the past six seasons in Montreal.

Despite the departures, Nancy said he expects even more from his team this season.

“The plan hasn’t changed, to be honest with you,” he said. “We try to think ahead about what can happen. When we have a player leave, no matter what is the position, we try to anticipate it.”

–Field Level Media