Chicago Fire hand Mbekezeli Mbokazi fresh hope of 2026 return

Mbekezeli Mbokazi could return for Chicago Fire before the end of the 2026 season, in a significant change to the club’s initial assessment of the defender’s thigh injury.

Chicago Fire coach Gregg Berhalter had previously said the Bafana Bafana international would miss the rest of the campaign after suffering a thigh tear following his return from the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

That injury brought an impressive debut MLS season for Mbokazi to an early end. However, Berhalter has now indicated that the 24-year-old’s rehabilitation is progressing well enough for a possible return before the season concludes.

“I think the information I gave that he is definitely out for the season was pre-mature,” Berhalter said, per Men in Red97, after Chicago Fire drew 1-1 with the New York Red Bulls on Sunday.

“He is in a rehab program now, and he is progressing. There is no exact time frame for when he is going to be back.

“But there is a possibility it is before the end of the season.”

The updated prognosis represents welcome news for Mbokazi, who quickly became one of Chicago Fire’s most impressive players during his first season in Major League Soccer.

The former Orlando Pirates defender joined Chicago Fire in January and made an immediate impact in Berhalter’s team. He started each of his 12 regular-season appearances before the injury interrupted his campaign.

Mbokazi had established himself as an important member of the side during those appearances, making his absence a significant setback for the club. His performances also helped underline the impact he had made since moving to MLS.

Although Chicago Fire have not provided a firm date for his return, Berhalter’s comments suggest that the defender’s recovery has developed more positively than first expected.

The club’s coach stressed that there is still no precise timeframe for when Mbokazi will be available again. His rehabilitation programme remains ongoing, meaning any comeback will depend on how he continues to respond to treatment and training.

For now, the possibility of a return before the end of the season marks a clear shift from the earlier confirmation that Mbokazi would not play again in 2026. The defender will continue his recovery with the prospect of adding to his 12 regular-season appearances still open.