Preview: Chicago Fire FC vs. Vancouver Whitecaps | MLS is Back Tournament, Group B

MLSsoccer staff

2020 MLS is Back Tournament – Group B, Matchday 16
Chicago Fire FC vs. Vancouver Whitecaps
ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex
Thurs., July 23 – 9:00 AM ET

TV: ESPN, ESPN Deportes; TSN in Canada

STREAMING: ESPN App; TSN App in Canada

A win will do wonders for Chicago Fire FC and the Vancouver Whitecaps as they close out Group B in the MLS is Back Tournament Thursday morning.

Fire FC will leap into second place in the group, ahead of the Seattle Sounders, and secure passage into the Round of 16 automatically. The Whitecaps need to win by two goals or more to make it through as one of the four best third-placed teams.

Chicago Fire FC

It's all to play for for Chicago Fire FC, who are certain of a second-place finish in the group with a win and would guarantee being one of the four best third-placed teams with a draw or a loss by a one-goal margin as long as the Fire score at least once.

"We are in a very good position," Fire FC coach Raphael Wicky said. "We put ourselves with the win against Seattle in a very good position. Everything depends on us. We're not depending on other teams, we're not depending on other results. Everything is in our own hands and that's what we're focusing on."

Wicky and the Fire, though, face the Whitecaps without midfielder Luka Stojanovic, who has departed to Chicago for a medical evaluation following an MCL injury against San Jose.

Preview: Chicago Fire FC vs. Vancouver Whitecaps | MLS is Back Tournament, Group B - Project Starting XI

Updated team roster

Injury Report:
- OUT: Michael Azira (M) - eye injury
- OUT: Jeremiah Gutjahr (M) - knee injury
- OUT: Johan Kappelhof (D) - quad injury
- OUT: Luka Stojanovic (M) - knee injury
Suspended: None
Suspended after next caution: None
International duty: None

Vancouver Whitecaps FC

The Whitecaps were already thin to start the tournament with five of their most experienced players electing not to travel to Orlando for a combination of medical and personal reasons. Then came training ground injuries to Janio Bikel and Erik Godoy in Orlando, followed by Maxime Crepeau's fractured left thumb against the Sounders. On Wednesday, the club announced they acquired goalkeeper Jonathan Sirois on loan from Montreal Impact just for the match against the Fire.

Updated team roster
Injury Report:
- OUT: Janio Bikel (M) - left adductor strain
- OUT: Eric Godoy (D) - right quadricep strain
- OUT: Maxime Crépeau (GK) - fractured left thumb
- UNAVAILABLE: Lucas Cavallini (F)
- UNAVAILABLE: Fredy Montero (F)
- UNAVAILABLE: Georges Mukumbilwa (M)
- UNAVAILABLE: Tosaint Ricketts (F)
- UNAVAILABLE: Andy Rose (D)
- UNAVAILABLE: Bryan Meredith (GK)
Suspended: None
Suspended after next caution: None
International duty: None