BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. – There’s a chill in the Illinois air as cars zoom past on I-294, but this is no ordinary fall evening for Chicago Fire FC fans.
Drums and chants of “dale Chicago” echo out of SeatGeek Stadium, where the Fire are ending the longest playoff drought in the MLS’s in a wild-card matchup against Orlando City. At the onset of the second half, Illinois native Brian Gutiérrez, or “Guti,” finds the back of the net and scores the Fire’s first playoff goal in 13 years. He sprints straight to the supporters’ section to celebrate with Sector Latino, which erupts to embrace its hometown hero.
“There’s a connection between the players and the fans that hasn’t been there for a long time,” said Mauricio Pineda, former chair of Section 8, an independent Fire supporter’s association.
Sector Latino, a separate supporter group for the MLS’ Chicago Fire, had a roller coaster 2025 season. Their passion for the club has been strained by regulations limiting protests against the Trump administration’s immigration policy. The Fire’s on-field success coincided with political tensions in Chicago surrounding the deployment of ICE agents and the National Guard.
A banner stating “Fire fans contra ICE” led to three Sector Latino members receiving yearlong bans. The group and Section 8 requested the club to release a message supporting communities impacted by ICE. Such a message has not yet arrived.
“I understand that they’re trying to avoid conflict,” said Pineda. “But we spend our hard-earned money, time, and effort on this team. It sort of feels like a slap in the face when you don’t get a statement from the team supporting the things that are important to you.”
A high point for Sector Latino and the club at large came on Oct. 22, when the Fire took on Orlando in their playoff opener. Guti’s goal kick-started a 3-1 victory, Chicago’s first playoff win since 2009.
Sector Latino stood and chanted all game, alongside Section 8, which encompasses eight other groups. Fans skipped work and sat through hours of traffic to reach the southwest Chicago suburb. Supporting the Fire unconditionally through last-place finishes and early eliminations finally paid off. Rain or shine, the Fire faithful stuck with the team. Guti, a homegrown Mexican-American player, sparked the first flame Chicago had seen in over a decade.
“They’re my people,” said Guti at the postgame press conference. “We come from the same people and we live the same background.”
Brian Gutiérrez at the postgame press conference following Chicago’s win against Orlando, Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025. Tomas Moran/ Illinois Latino News Network
“It was heartbreaking to not be a part of it,” said Nate Cubeta, one of the three Sector Latino members currently serving a ban.
Cubeta and siblings Edith and Julio Lopez brought a banner to the Chicago Fire matchup against Charlotte FC on June 28. It featured former Mexico and Chicago star Cuauhtémoc Blanco and the message “Fire fans contra ICE”. The trio made the sign without consulting other Sector Latino members and displayed it at two games before the Charlotte contest.
“Fire fans contra ICE” banner displayed at Soldier Field during the Chicago Fire’s game versus Charlotte FC, Monday, June 28, 2025 (image courtesy of Nate Cubeta for Illinois Latino News Network).
At the game, stadium officials asked Cubeta to take down the banner. He refused, and it was confiscated. The club notified the fans shortly after the game that all three were banned from Fire games for the next 365 days.
“We created the sign knowing it was technically in violation of the regulations,” said Cubeta.
MLS’s Fan Code of Conduct bars “displaying signs, symbols, or images for commercial purposes or for electioneering, campaigning, or advocating for or against any candidate, political party, legislative issue, or government action.”
Although Cubeta and both Lopez siblings were aware of the potential repercussions of the banner, they did not expect such a reaction.
“We were shocked and appalled by the punishment,” said Cubeta. “A one-year punishment is typically only for a violent incident.”
Sector Latino and Section 8 both released statements condemning the ban. The open letter from Sector Latino inquired, “Is it that Chicago Fire ownership only cares to collect money, content, and cache from Chicago’s immigrant community and offer no support in return?”
A protest was also organized by Sector Latino and Section 8 for the fixture with San Diego FC on July 12. Backs turned against the pitch, the entire supporters’ section fell dead silent for the opening 15 minutes of the match. The constant drumming, flag waving, and chanting the Fire is accustomed to, even in the worst of times, was gone.
The Fire’s front office issued a statement to the press, declaring, “The Chicago Fire remain committed to providing a safe and enjoyable environment for all fans.” Supporter Relations Coordinator Roberto Díaz stopped responding to further messages seeking comment.
Ultimately, the Philadelphia Union eliminated Chicago on Nov. 1, ending the Fire’s 2025 campaign. With the successful, yet tumultuous, season behind them, the community remains at the heart of Sector Latino.
“I feel at home in Sector,” said Cubeta. “It’s about having options for people to support in a way they’re comfortable with.”
With a new stadium in the works for 2028, fans are cautiously optimistic for the Fire’s future. Soccer culture is community-based, Sector Latino and Section 8 want to ensure that the Fire maintains that fundamental value.
“Soccer is the only professional sport in the US where fans get a still say on how the team is run,” said Pineda. “We want to ensure that fans don’t lose that. Today, the immigrant community is being impacted by ICE, but tomorrow there may be another issue fans want to speak up about.”
Soccer teams traditionally represent communities, and supporter groups are the conduit through which residents show their support and make their voices heard.
“With the Fire, you still have a say,” Pineda said. “You still get to express to the team what you want to see. It provides fans a platform to communicate what’s important to them.”
“The visibility, the power is in the stadium,” said Cubeta. “That’s a part of stadium supporters’ culture.”
One thing is for sure, though. Sector Latino continues to believe in the Chicago Fire as a symbol of its community.
“I’ll definitely be at the first game I’m allowed back,” said Cubeta. “They can’t get rid of me that easily.”
View of Sector Latino from behind at SeatGeek Stadium, Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025. Tomas Moran/Illinois Latino News Network
Tomas Moran is a bilingual student journalist in his second year at Northwestern University, with a focus on radio and television broadcast.
Feature Image Caption: Daniel Flores (trumpet) and Alberto Saberben (Peruvian flag) cheer on the Fire from Sector Latino, Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025. Tomas Moran/ Illinois Latino News Network