2026 Chicago Fire FC season

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Head coachGregg Berhalter
StadiumSoldier Field
(capacity: 61,500)
Chicago Fire FC
2026 season
OwnerJoe Mansueto
Head coachGregg Berhalter
StadiumSoldier Field
(capacity: 61,500)
 2025
2027 

The 2026 Chicago Fire FC season will be the club's 29th season in Major League Soccer. The season will be the seventh season under owner Joe Mansuetto, and the second with Gregg Berhalter as head coach.

Loaned Out

Players signed as of November 1, 2025[1]

No. Name Date of birth (age) Date Joined Previous club Player Notes
Goalkeepers
1 United States Chris Brady March 3, 2004 (age 22) March 24, 2020 United States Chicago Fire Academy Homegrown
25 United States Jeff Gal April 6, 1993 (age 33) January 11, 2023 Sweden Degerfors IF
44 United States Josh Cohen August 19, 1992 (age 33) December 31, 2025 United States Atlanta United
Defenders
2 Portugal Leonardo Barroso June 16, 2005 (age 20) January 14, 2025 Portugal Sporting CP B International
U-22
3 England Jack Elliott August 25, 1995 (age 30) December 16, 2024 United States Philadelphia Union TAM
4 South Africa Mbekezeli Mbokazi September 19, 2005 (age 20) December 2, 2025 South Africa Orlando Pirates F.C. International
U-22
5 United States Sam Rogers May 17, 1999 (age 26) January 13, 2025 Norway Lillestrøm SK
14 Serbia Viktor Radojević July 14, 2004 (age 21) August 22, 2025 Serbia FK TSC International
U-22
15 United States Andrew Gutman October 2, 1996 (age 29) December 12, 2023 United States Colorado Rapids
16 Canada Joel Waterman January 24, 1996 (age 30) August 20, 2025 Canada CF Montréal International
24 United States Jonathan Dean May 15, 1997 (age 28) January 12, 2023 United States Birmingham Legion FC
38 United States Christopher Cupps May 26, 2008 (age 17) February 18, 2025 United States Chicago Fire Academy Homegrown
Midfielders
6 Sweden Anton Salétros April 12, 1996 (age 30) November 7, 2025 Sweden AIK International
7 Switzerland Maren Haile-Selassie March 13, 1999 (age 27) December 27, 2022 Switzerland FC Lugano International
8 United States Chris Mueller August 29, 1996 (age 29) May 5, 2022 Scotland Hibernian F.C.
10 Portugal André Franco April 12, 1998 (aged 27) August 13, 2025 Portugal FC Porto International
TAM
11 Denmark Philip Zinckernagel December 16, 1994 (age 31) January 6, 2025 Belgium Club Brugge KV International
TAM
17 Finland Robin Lod April 17, 1993 (age 33) December 26, 2025 United States Minnesota United
19 Ivory Coast Jonathan Bamba March 26, 1996 (age 30) January 21, 2025 Spain RC Celta de Vigo DP
International
22 United States Mauricio Pineda October 17, 1997 (age 28) January 17, 2020 United States North Carolina Tar Heels
27 United States Dylan Borso June 2, 2006 (age 19) December 20, 2024 United States Wake Forest Homegrown
29 United States David Poreba December 1, 2002 (age 23) December 12, 2024 United States Chicago Fire FC II
35 United States Sergio Oregel May 16, 2005 (age 20) October 23, 2021 United States Chicago Fire Academy Homegrown
37 United States Robert Turdean January 14, 2010 (age 16) January 22, 2025 United States Chicago Fire Academy Off-Roster Homegrown
42 Ivory Coast Djé D'Avilla May 5, 2003 (age 22) April 1, 2025 Portugal U.D. Leiria International
U-22
Forwards
9 Belgium Hugo Cuypers February 7, 1997 (age 29) February 6, 2024 Belgium Gent International
Designated Player
12 South Africa Puso Dithejane June 24, 2004 (age 21) January 13, 2026 South Africa TS Galaxy F.C. International
U-22
20 United States Jason Shokalook September 30, 2002 (age 23) December 10, 2025 United States Chicago Fire FC II
28 United States Dean Boltz June 7, 2006 (age 19) December 20, 2024 United States University of Wisconsin
No. Name Date of birth (age) Date Joined Loaned To
26 Guyana Omari Glasgow November 22, 2003 (age 22) December 17, 2024 United States Monterey Bay FC
47 United States Sam Williams March 18, 2005 (age 21) March 14, 2025 United States Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC

Temporary Players

Below are players that joined the Fire from Fire II on short-term loans during the season. Players are allowed to be called up to four games and cannot play in more than two games.

No. Name Position Date of birth (age) Games Joined For
30 United States Jack Sandmeyer Defender October 8, 2002 (age 23) March 21 vs Philadelphia [2]

Player movement

Returning, options, and new contracts

Date Player Position Notes Ref
November 26, 2025England Jack ElliottDFOption exercised[3]
November 26, 2025United States David PorebaMFSigned to a new contract for 2026 with options for 2027 and 2028[3]
November 26, 2025United States Sam WilliamsMFOption exercised[3]
January 1, 2025Guyana Omari GlasgowMFReturned from loan to Loudoun United FC[4]

In

Date Player Position Previous club Notes Ref
November 7, 2025Sweden Anton SalétrosMFSweden AIKTransferred from AIK on a contract through 2028[5]
November 7, 2025Portugal André FrancoMFPortugal FC PortoAcquired from Porto permanently after a successful loan stint on a contract that runs through the middle of 2028 with an option for the remainder of the year[6]
December 2, 2025South Africa Mbekezeli MbokaziDFSouth Africa Orlando Pirates F.C.Acquired as a U-22 initiative player from Orlando on a contract that runs through 2029 with an option for the 2029/2030 season.[7]
December 10, 2025United States Jason ShokalookFWUnited States Chicago Fire FC IIPromoted from the second team after winning the 2025 MLS Next Pro golden boot, signing a contract for 2026 with options for 2027 and 2028[8]
December 26, 2025Finland Robin LodMFUnited States Minnesota UnitedJoined the Fire as a free agent with a contract through the summer of 2008[9]
December 31, 2025United States Josh CohenGKUnited States Atlanta UnitedJoined the Fire as a free agent through the summer of 2027 with an option for the 2027-2028 season[10]
January 13, 2026South Africa Puso DithejaneFWSouth Africa TS Galaxy F.C.Joined from Galaxy as a U-22 initiative player through the 2029-2030 season with an option for the 2030-2031 season[11]


Out

Date Player Position Destination Club Notes Ref
November 26, 2025United States Omar GonzalezDFUnited States Chicago Fire FC IIJoined the Fire's second team as an assistant player-coach[12]
November 26, 2025United States Tom BarlowFWUnited States FC CincinnatiOption declined[3]
November 26, 2025United States Bryan DowdGKUnited States FC Cincinnati 2Option declined[3]
November 26, 2025United States Chase GasperDFRetiredOut of contract, and subsequently retired[3]
November 26, 2025Mali Rominigue KouaméMFSpain Cádiz CFEnd of loan[13][3]
December 12, 2025United States Brian GutiérrezMFMexico ChivasTransferred to Chivas for a multi-million-dollar fee with a future sell-on percentage[14]
December 13, 2025Greece Georgios KoutsiasFWSwitzerland FC LuganoFormally transferred to Lugano after being on loan to them for the previous year[15]
December 30, 2025United States Justin ReynoldsDFUnited States Sporting Kansas CityTransferred to SKC for up to $100k in GAM, SKC's natural third round draft pick in the 2028 SuperDraft, and a potential future sell-on fee if Reynolds is sold to a non-MLS side[16]
January 14, 2026United States Kellyn AcostaMFPoland Pogoń SzczecinAcosta and the Fire mutually agreed to part ways[17]

Loaned Out

Date Player Position Destination Club Notes Ref
February 13, 2026United States Sam WilliamsMUnited States Colorado Springs Switchbacks FCLoaned for the season[18]
February 13, 2026Guyana Omari GlasgowMUnited States Monterey Bay FCLoaned for the season[19]

Unsigned draft pick

Player Position Previous club Notes Ref
R1, P18United States Jack SandmeyerDF/MFUnited States UNCSigned with the second team[20]

Technical staff

Position Staff
Head Coach and Director of Football United States Gregg Berhalter
Assistant Coach Portugal Filipe Çelikkaya
Assistant Coach United States Tom Heinemann
Assistant Coach United States Hector Jiménez
Goalkeeping Coach United States Zach Thornton
Assistant Goalkeeping Coach United States Joe Bendik
Set Piece Coach England Ryan Needs
Sporting Director England Gregg Broughton
Head of Player Recruitment United States Michael Stephens
Director of Performance Canada Darcy Norman
Head of Strategy United States Eddie Rock
General Manager United States Zayne Thomajan
Director of Methodology
Talent Manager
Switzerland Vincent Cavin

Last updated: January 8, 2025
Source: Chicago Fire Technical Staff

Non-competitive matches

Preseason

For the third consecutive season, the Fire participated in the Coachella Valley Invitational.[21] Prior to this they travelled to West Palm Beach in Florida for a week of training.

January 20 Chicago Fire FC 4–1 Nashville SC West Palm Beach, Florida
Poreba
Salétros
Zinckernagel
(o.g.) Applewhite
Brunet
January 24 Chicago Fire FC 1–0 Sporting Kansas City West Palm Beach, Florida
Bamba
February 8 CVI Chicago Fire 3–2 LA Galaxy Indio, California
Report
Stadium: Empire Polo Club
Referee: Ricardo Fierro
February 11 CVI Chicago Fire 2–2 Austin FC Indio, California
Report
Stadium: Empire Polo Club
Referee: Muhammad Kaleia
February 14 CVI Chicago Fire 3–4 Portland Timbers Indio, California
Report
Stadium: Empire Polo Club
Referee: Alexis Da Silva

Competitions

Major League Soccer

Eastern Conference table

MLS Eastern Conference table (2026)
Pos Team Pld W L T GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Nashville SC 9 7 1 1 21 6 +15 22 Qualification for round one and the CONCACAF Champions Cup round one
2 Inter Miami CF 10 5 1 4 19 15 +4 19 Qualification for round one
3 Chicago Fire FC 9 5 2 2 17 8 +9 17
4 New England Revolution 9 5 3 1 17 12 +5 16
5 Charlotte FC 10 4 4 2 18 18 0 14
6 Toronto FC 10 3 3 4 14 16 2 13
7 New York City FC 10 3 4 3 19 16 +3 12
8 Columbus Crew 10 3 4 3 14 13 +1 12 Qualification for the wild-card round
9 FC Cincinnati 10 3 4 3 19 23 4 12
10 D.C. United 10 3 4 3 11 15 4 12
11 New York Red Bulls 10 3 4 3 16 25 9 12
12 CF Montréal 9 3 6 0 13 20 7 9
13 Atlanta United FC 10 2 7 1 9 17 8 7
14 Orlando City SC 10 2 7 1 12 29 17 7
15 Philadelphia Union 10 1 7 2 9 17 8 5
Updated to match(es) played on April 25, 2026. Source: MLS
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) total wins; 3) total goal differential; 4) total goals scored; 5) fewer disciplinary points; 6) away goal differential; 7) away goals scored; 8) home goals differential; 9) home goals scored; 10) coin toss (2 clubs tied) or drawing of lots (≥3 clubs tied)

Overall table

Overall MLS standings table
Pos Team Pld W L T GF GA GD Pts
5 Seattle Sounders FC 8 6 1 1 12 4 +8 19
6 Inter Miami CF 10 5 1 4 19 15 +4 19
7 Chicago Fire FC 9 5 2 2 17 8 +9 17
8 Minnesota United FC 10 5 3 2 11 14 3 17
9 New England Revolution 9 5 3 1 17 12 +5 16
Updated to match(es) played on April 26, 2026. Source: MLS
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) total wins; 3) total goal differential; 4) total goals scored; 5) fewer disciplinary points; 6) away goal differential; 7) away goals scored; 8) home goals differential; 9) home goals scored; 10) coin toss (2 clubs tied) or drawing of lots (≥3 clubs tied)

Results summary

OverallHomeAway
PldPtsWLTGFGAGDWLTGFGAGDWLTGFGAGD
9 17 5 2 2 17 8  +9 4 1 0 11 2  +9 1 1 2 6 6  0

Last updated: April 25, 2026
Source: MLSsoccer.com standings
Pld = Matches played; Pts = Points; W = Matches won; T = Matches tied; L = Matches lost; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; GD = Goal difference

Match results

February 21 1 Houston Dynamo FC 2–1 Chicago Fire FC Houston, Texas
7:30 PM Yellow card 13' Holmes
67', 78' Guilherme
Yellow card 85' Sviatchenko
Report Yellow card 26' Waterman
31' Cuypers
Yellow card 84' Mueller
Stadium: Shell Energy Stadium
Attendance: 20,068
Referee: Filip Dujic
February 28 2 Chicago Fire FC 3–0 CF Montréal Chicago, Illinois
1:30 PM 27' Bamba
Yellow card 44' Zinckernagel
Red card 56' Dean
90+4' (pen.) Cuypers
90+10' Lod
Report Yellow card 30' Vera
Yellow card 53' Jaime
Yellow card 90+2' Gillier
Stadium: Soldier Field
Attendance: 20,872
Referee: Elijio Arreguin
March 7 3 Columbus Crew 0–0 Chicago Fire FC Columbus, Ohio
6:30 PM Yellow card 14' Arfsten
Yellow card 87' Zawadzki
Report Yellow card 61' Waterman
Yellow card 77' Zinckernagel
Yellow card 83' Salétros
Yellow card 90' Bamba
Stadium: ScottsMiracle-Gro Field
Attendance: 20,121
Referee: Tori Penso
March 14 4 Chicago Fire FC 1–2 D.C. United Chicago, Illinois
7:30 PM Yellow card 24' Zinckernagel
Yellow card 54' D'Avilla
Yellow card 57' Elliott
81' (pen.) Cuypers
Report Yellow card 34' Hopkins
84' Peltola
90+5' (pen.) Baribo
Stadium: Soldier Field
Attendance: 15,845
Referee: Sergii Demianchuk
March 21 5 Philadelphia Union 1–2 Chicago Fire FC Chester, Pennsylvania
3:30 PM Yellow card 37' Ndinga
50+7' Iloski
Report Yellow card 8' Lod
Yellow card 23' D'Avilla
45+3' Cuypers
58' Bamba
Yellow card 87' Radojević
Stadium: Subaru Park
Attendance: 18,753
Referee: Nabil Bensalah
April 4 6 Chicago Fire FC 1–0 Nashville SC Chicago, Illinois
7:30 PM 1' Zinckernagel
Yellow card 72' Salétros
Yellow card 78' D'Avilla
Report Yellow card 80' Tagseth Stadium: Soldier Field
Attendance: 15,392
Referee: Marcos de Oliveira
April 11 7 Chicago Fire FC 1–0 Atlanta United FC Chicago, Illinois
7:30 PM Yellow card 8' Zinckernagel
13' Haile-Selassie
Yellow card 48' Barroso
Report Yellow card 3' Jacob Stadium: Soldier Field
Attendance: 17,764
Referee: Drew Fischer
April 18 8 FC Cincinnati 3–3 Chicago Fire FC Cincinnati, Ohio
6:30 PM Yellow card 7' Gidi
Yellow card 11', 42' Barlow
79' (pen.) Evander
86' (o.g.) D'Avilla
Yellow card 90' Ramírez
Yellow card 90' Bucha
Report 26', 48' Cuypers
45+5' (pen.) Zinckernagel
Yellow card 90' Borso
Yellow card 90+9' Elliott
Yellow card 90+9' Mbokazi
Stadium: TQL Stadium
Attendance: 25,513
Referee: Malik Badawi
April 25 9 Chicago Fire FC 5–0 Sporting Kansas City Chicago, Illinois
7:30 PM Yellow card 10' Gutman
51', 65' Zinckernagel
73', 90+8' Cuypers
79' Haile-Selassie
Report Stadium: Soldier Field
Attendance: 17,892
Referee: Brandon Stevis
May 2 10 Chicago Fire FC v FC Cincinnati Chicago, Illinois
7:30 PM Report Stadium: Soldier Field
May 9 11 Chicago Fire FC v New York Red Bulls Chicago, Illinois
1:30 PM Report Stadium: Soldier Field
May 13 12 D.C. United v Chicago Fire FC Washington, D.C.
6:30 PM Report Stadium: Audi Field
May 16 13 CF Montréal v Chicago Fire FC Montreal, Quebec
6:30 PM Report Stadium: Saputo Stadium
May 23 14 Chicago Fire FC v Toronto FC Chicago, Illinois
7:30 PM Report Stadium: Soldier Field
July 16 15 Chicago Fire FC v Vancouver Whitecaps FC Chicago, Illinois
7:30 PM Report Stadium: Soldier Field
July 22 16 Inter Miami CF v Chicago Fire FC Miami, Florida
6:30 PM Report Stadium: Nu Stadium
July 25 17 New York City FC v Chicago Fire FC New York, New York
6:30 PM Report Stadium: Yankee Stadium
August 1 18 Chicago Fire FC v Charlotte FC Chicago, Illinois
7:30 PM Report Stadium: Soldier Field
August 16 19 Chicago Fire FC v Portland Timbers Chicago, Illinois
5:30 PM Report Stadium: Soldier Field
August 19 20 Orlando City SC v Chicago Fire FC Orlando, Florida
6:30 PM Report Stadium: Inter&Co Stadium
August 22 21 New York Red Bulls v Chicago Fire FC Harrison, New Jersey
6:30 PM Report Stadium: Sports Illustrated Stadium
August 29 22 Seattle Sounders FC v Chicago Fire FC Seattle, Washington
3:30 PM Report Stadium: Lumen Field
September 5 23 Toronto FC v Chicago Fire FC Toronto, Ontario
6:30 PM Report Stadium: BMO Field
September 9 24 Chicago Fire FC v Inter Miami CF Chicago, Illinois
7:30 PM Report Stadium: Soldier Field
September 13 25 Chicago Fire FC v New England Revolution Chicago, Illinois
5:30 PM Report Stadium: Soldier Field
September 19 26 Nashville SC v Chicago Fire FC Nashville, Tennessee
8:30 PM Report Stadium: Geodis Park
September 26 27 Charlotte FC v Chicago Fire FC Charlotte, North Carolina
6:30 PM Report Stadium: Bank of America Stadium
October 10 28 Chicago Fire FC v New York City FC Chicago, Illinois
1:30 PM Report Stadium: Soldier Field
October 14 29 Chicago Fire FC v Philadelphia Union Chicago, Illinois
7:30 PM Report Stadium: Soldier Field
October 17 30 New England Revolution v Chicago Fire FC Foxborough, Massachusetts
6:30 PM Report Stadium: Gillette Stadium
October 24 31 Atlanta United FC v Chicago Fire FC Atlanta, Georgia
6:30 PM Report Stadium: Mercedes-Benz Stadium
October 28 32 Chicago Fire FC v Orlando City SC Chicago, Illinois
7:30 PM Report Stadium: Soldier Field
October 31 33 Colorado Rapids v Chicago Fire FC Commerce City, Colorado
TBD Report Stadium: Dick's Sporting Goods Park
November 7 34 Chicago Fire FC v Columbus Crew Chicago, Illinois
3:00 PM Report Stadium: Soldier Field


U.S. Open Cup

April 14 Round of 32 Detroit City FC Michigan 1–2 Illinois Chicago Fire FC Hamtramck, Michigan
6:30 PM
Report
Stadium: Keyworth Stadium
Attendance: 6,229
Referee: Abdou Ndiaye
April 29 Round of 16 Chicago Fire FC Illinois 1–2 Missouri St. Louis City SC Bridgeview, Illinois
7:00 PM
Report
Stadium: SeatGeek Stadium
Attendance: 3,426
Referee: Joshua Encarnación

Leagues Cup

League Phase

August 6 1 Chicago Fire FC United States v Mexico Necaxa Bridgeview, Illinois
TBD p.m. CDT Stadium: SeatGeek Stadium
August 9 2 Chicago Fire FC United States v Mexico Santos Laguna Bridgeview, Illinois
TBD p.m. CDT Stadium: SeatGeek Stadium
August 13 3 Cruz Azul Mexico v United States Chicago Fire FC Bridgeview, Illinois
TBD p.m. CDT Stadium: SeatGeek Stadium

Statistics

Note: italics indicates a player who left during the season while * indicates a Fire II player that joined on a short-term loan or for the Open Cup

Games played

No. Name MLS Playoffs Open Cup Leagues Cup Total
Starts Apps Minutes Bench Starts Apps Minutes Bench Starts Apps Minutes Bench Starts Apps Minutes Bench Starts Apps Minutes Bench
1 Chris Brady 6 6 540 6 6 540
2 Leonardo Barroso 6 6 477 6 6 477
3 Jack Elliott 4 4 307 4 4 307
4 Mbekezeli Mbokazi 6 6 538 6 6 538
5 Sam Rogers 1 1 76 1 1 76
6 Anton Salétros 6 6 540 6 6 540
7 Maren Haile-Selassie 4 6 354 4 6 354
8 Chris Mueller 1 2 69 1 1 2 69 1
9 Hugo Cuypers 4 4 360 4 4 360
10 André Franco
11 Philip Zinckernagel 6 6 478 6 6 478
12 Puso Dithejane 1 2 5 1 2 5
14 Viktor Radojević 3 47 1 3 47 1
15 Andrew Gutman 2 2 135 2 2 135
16 Joel Waterman 3 5 328 3 5 328
17 Robin Lod 4 6 356 4 6 356
19 Jonathan Bamba 5 5 416 5 5 416
20 Jason Shokalook 3 11 2 3 11 2
22 Mauricio Pineda 2 3 168 3 2 3 168 3
24 Jonathan Dean 2 3 146 1 2 3 146 1
25 Jeff Gal 1 1
27 Dylan Borso 2 63 2 63
28 Dean Boltz
29 David Poreba 2 2
30 Jack Sandmeyer* 1 1
35 Sergio Oregel 1 2 5 1 2 5
37 Robert Turdean
38 Christopher Cupps 2 42 2 2 42 2
42 Djé D'Avilla 4 6 370 4 6 370
44 Josh Cohen 5 5

Goalkeeping

No. Nat. Name MLS Playoffs Open Cup Leagues Cup Total
Clean Sheets Saves GA Clean Sheets Saves GA Clean Sheets Saves GA Clean Sheets Saves GA Clean Sheets Saves GA
1 USA Chris Brady 3 16 5 3 16 5
25 USA Jeff Gal
44 USA Josh Cohen

Goals

Rk. Player MLS Playoffs Open Cup Leagues Cup Total
1 Belgium Hugo Cuypers 4 3
2 Ivory Coast Jonathan Bamba 2 2
3 Finland Robin Lod 1 1
Denmark Philip Zinckernagel 1 1

Assists

Rk. Player MLS Playoffs Open Cup Leagues Cup Total
A A A A A
1 Ivory Coast Jonathan Bamba 1 1
Belgium Hugo Cuypers 1 1
United States Andrew Gutman 1 1
Finland Robin Lod 1 1
Sweden Anton Salétros 1 1

Disciplinary record

Rk. Player MLS Playoffs Open Cup Leagues Cup Total Matches Suspended
Yellow card Second yellow card Red card Yellow card Second yellow card Red card Yellow card Second yellow card Red card Yellow card Second yellow card Red card Yellow card Second yellow card Red card
1 United States Jonathan Dean 1 1 March 7th vs Columbus
2 Ivory Coast Djé D'Avilla 3 3
Denmark Philip Zinckernagel 3 3
4 Sweden Anton Salétros 2 2
Canada Joel Waterman 2 2
6 Ivory Coast Jonathan Bamba 1 1
England Jack Elliott 1 1
Finland Robin Lod 1 1
United States Chris Mueller 1 1
Serbia Viktor Radojević 1 1

Awards

Man of the Match awards

Game # Player Reference
1 None Awarded
2 Portugal Leonardo Barroso [22]
3 United States Dylan Borso [23]
4 None Awarded
5 Ivory Coast Jonathan Bamba [24]
6 United States Chris Brady [25]
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34

Fire Player of the Month

Month Player Reference
February and March Belgium Hugo Cuypers [26]

MLS Team of the Matchday

Matchday Player Position Reference
3 United States Chris Brady (1) Goalkeeper [27]
5 Belgium Hugo Cuypers Striker [28]
6 United States Chris Brady (2) Goalkeeper [29]


Notes

References

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