Marko Mitrović’s first return to Chicago as an opposing coach gives Fire New England Revolution a personal edge, but the football context matters just as much. The New England Revolution head coach is back at the club where he spent four seasons as Veljko Paunović’s lead assistant, and this trip comes with both teams sitting in the Eastern Conference’s top four.
The Revolution moved ahead of the Fire earlier this week after winning in New York, leaving Gregg Berhalter to note that they had taken third place from Chicago. That means Sunday’s meeting is not just about a reunion for Mitrović. It is also a direct contest between third- and fourth-placed teams, with positioning in the Eastern Conference still very much alive.
Mitrović’s Chicago link still matters
Mitrović said his time with the Fire gave him a better understanding of the league and its demands. “Everything we do in our lives brings us that experience,” he said, adding that his four years in Chicago helped him understand “the uniqueness that this league provides us with.”
That is a fair way to frame the significance of Sunday. Mitrović is not returning as an outsider looking in. He knows the club, the city and the environment, and he has already spoken warmly about his time there.
He also made clear how much he valued those years in Chicago, saying he had “a really great time” and was “very appreciative” of the four seasons he spent with the Fire. For a coach now trying to build something in New England, that background gives this fixture an added layer of familiarity.
A Fire team that still remembers 2017
For Chicago, there is another reason this game carries meaning. The club’s 2017 season remains its benchmark over the last 15 years or so, and it was also their only playoff appearance between 2012 and 2025. That is the standard the Fire continue to measure themselves against.
Matt Polster, who played for Chicago from 2015 to 2018, reflected on that period on Friday morning after training in Chicago. He said the group built “a really good squad together” and pointed to the veteran influence in the dressing room.
“We brought in a lot of veteran players and senior players that I got to learn from and gain a lot of experience from,” Polster said. He singled out Bastian Schweinsteiger, Dax McCarty and Juninho, while also praising the coaching staff led by Mitrović and Pauno.
Polster’s memory was not just of individuals, but of a team that played well across the season. He described 2017 as “a really fun year” and said the side had made “a step in the right direction,” even if it ultimately wanted to go further.
New England arrive with momentum and movement
The Revolution’s setup has also changed quickly. Mitrović joined New England last offseason ahead of the 2026 season, and the squad has been shaped with a mix of experienced MLS players and younger talent.
There has also been fresh movement in the group. Last week, Dániel Gazdag signed from Columbus, adding another dimension to a side that already looks well equipped for the run-in. That matters in a game like this, where the margins in the Eastern Conference are tight and every point can reshape the table.
Mitrović’s return to Chicago is notable because of the history, but the stakes are competitive as well. The Fire want to protect their place near the top of the conference, while New England have already shown they are capable of taking that position away. Sunday is the kind of game that tells you more than just who won. It tells you who is ready to live up to the pressure that comes with being in the race.
