Fire, Nashville SC wrap 2024 season, hope for better days ahead

Major League Soccer's Decision Day won't mean much to Nashville SC and the Chicago Fire, other than perhaps who can avoid finishing in the Eastern Conference cellar.

Nashville (8-16-9, 33 points) and Chicago (7-17-9, 30 points) have long been eliminated from the playoff race. Nashville sits in 13th place in the 15-team conference, while the Fire are 15th.

With a victory Saturday at home, the Fire could potentially move past New England (31 points) and into a tie with Nashville to avoid a last-place finish.

The Fire might have additional motivation, as they'll be attempting to impress Gregg Berhalter, the former U.S. men's national team coach, who will take over as the club's coach and director of football after the match.

"I really see this opportunity as a sleeping giant," Berhalter said during his introductory news conference Thursday, discussing a club that hasn't made the playoffs since 2017. "We're going to give everything we have to return this team to the top of Major League Soccer. Chicago is about community, it's also about sports, and that's what's exciting."

Current Chicago coach Frank Klopas will lead the team Saturday, then assume a new role as the vice president of football.

The Fire are coming off a 4-3 loss to Charlotte FC two weeks ago, when Fabian Herbers, Kellyn Acosta and Tom Barlow found the back of the net for Chicago.

Nashville has missed the playoffs for the first time since joining MLS in 2020.

"Preparations for us is normal," Nashville coach B.J. Callaghan said. "It's an opportunity for players to compete for positions (for 2025), an evaluation period. It's still a competitive environment. We're doing nothing short of still trying to win the game at Chicago."

Hany Mukhtar is two goals away from becoming the first player in league history to record 10-plus goals and 10-plus assists in four consecutive seasons.

Nashville leads the all-time series between the clubs 3-1-2. The teams met Sept. 18 in the Music City, with the hosts coming away with 1-0 victory on Sam Surridge's goal in the 19th minute. Joe Willis made three saves in posting the shutout.

--Field Level Media