Fire D Mbekezeli Mbokazi (thigh) out for season

Field Level Media|published: 08/07/2026, 12:52pm EDT

Mar 21, 2026; Chester, Pennsylvania, USA; Chicago Fire defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi (4) chases the ball against the Philadelphia Union during the first half at Subaru Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

Chicago Fire defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi will miss the remainder of the season with a thigh injury.

Head coach Gregg Berhalter announced Thursday night that the 20-year-old center back sustained a tear to his left thigh during training following the World Cup, where he helped South Africa reach its first-ever knockout stage.

"Mbo being out for the year is a tough one," Berhalter told Apple TV before Thursday's 2-0 Leagues Cup win against Necaxa. "It's really about the next person stepping up and being a team that's hard to score on. Closing the spaces, being compact."

ESPN reported that Mbokazi will undergo surgery in Finland to repair the damage and likely will not return to the field until December.

Not only did Mbokazi make the 2026 MLS All-Star team during his debut season in the league, he led all players in the fan voting. He finishes the season with 12 starts in 12 matches after being acquired from South Africa's Orlando Pirates in December.

--Field Level Media