New York & Chicago Go To War

There are rivalries in sport that go back decades, to the point where a lot of fans probably wouldn’t even be able to tell you when and how it began. Of course, to go alongside that, you’ve got to try and look beneath the surface in order to pick our rivalries that may not even exist yet – which is exactly what we’re doing.

Tonight will see New York City FC go one on one with Chicago Fire, and whilst the game may have some intriguing complications for both sets of teams in the middle of the Eastern Conference table, we want to talk about the overall impact that the two cities not only have on the MLS, but the United States of America.

NY vs CHI

You see, when it comes to tourism in the US (acting as if nobody in the world knows this), New York City and Chicago are often located towards the top of most people’s wish lists. That’s understandable given the nature of both cities, as they kind of fly the flag for the Midwest and the East in regards to spirit and tenacity.

There’s a deep history within both that often makes them both beloved and hated in equal measure, and to be honest, those same traits are often evident in their sporting franchises. Between them they play host to some of the biggest and best teams in all five major sports and leagues, and why? Because these people love their sports.

So whilst there may not be a direct rivalry mentioned in the following preview by MLS Soccer, it has always felt to us like there is something simmering beneath the surface. The stature of both clubs ensures that there should probably be some more consistent success on both fronts in the next decade or so, but again, that isn’t even remotely close to being guaranteed.

At this stage of the campaign it’s already looking like both are going to struggle, and whilst they may scrape their way into the playoffs, they almost certainly aren’t going to be able to compete with the big boys. As stated by Pro Soccer USA, NYCFC will be lucky to finish the season with the manager that is currently on the touchline.

The growth continues

The MLS is an absolute minefield right now because it seems as if literally everyone is battling back and forth with one another in order to get ahead. Yes, the same thing is true of other leagues especially in Europe, but things feel so much tighter over in the States.

The youth of the league has something to do with that, but again, so does the spirit. It doesn’t matter how badly NYC or Chicago is playing on any given week, because they could easily put a run together out of nowhere in order to take them from the bottom to the top. That’s why we tune in, and that’s why we’re excited to see the dynamic between the two teams this evening. If you’ve got a few spare minutes tonight, make sure you try your best to tune in – you won’t regret it.