Chicago Fire

Chicago Fire were founded on 8 October 1997, the 126th anniversary of the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 that inspired the name, and began play in 1998 as one of the first MLS expansion teams. The original crest was based on the Cross of Saint Florian, a fire department emblem, and the red shirt with a chest stripe recalled a firefighter's coat. In 2020 the club returned to Soldier Field, home of the Chicago Bears, after spells in Naperville in 2002-2003 and at Bridgeview's Toyota Park, now SeatGeek Stadium, from 2006 to 2019.

Coached by Bob Bradley, the Fire won the double in their first season, beating two-time champions D.C. United 2-0 in MLS Cup 1998 at the Rose Bowl and then Columbus Crew in the U.S. Open Cup final five days later; they were the first expansion team to win MLS Cup. Further Open Cups followed in 2000, 2003 and 2006, making four in all, and the 2003 team won the Supporters' Shield for the best regular-season record and reached MLS Cup again.