Pursuing Its First NWSL Shield, Gotham FC Hosts Chicago Stars FC

JERSEY CITY, N.J. (Sept. 24, 2026) - Gotham FC returns home Friday to face Chicago Stars FC at Sports Illustrated Stadium for its first match since clinching a fourth consecutive NWSL playoff berth, with sights set on the first NWSL Shield in club history.

Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. ET, with Prime Video carrying the national broadcast.

Gotham FC (15-4-6, 51 points) enters the match with a five-point lead on second-place Washington in the NWSL standings and five regular season matches remaining. With a place in the postseason secured, Gotham FC turns its focus toward winning the club’s first NWSL Shield, given to the league’s regular season winner.

The league leaders return home following a dramatic 2-1 victory over the North Carolina Courage on Saturday at First Horizon Stadium. Rookie forward Jordynn Dudley recorded the first two-goal performance of her professional career, including the game-winner in the first minute of second-half stoppage time, as Gotham FC secured its league-leading eighth road win of the season. The win, paired with results around the league, also confirmed Gotham FC’s spot in the 2026 NWSL Playoffs, extending a club record for postseason appearances.

Chicago (5-18-2, 17 points) enters Friday’s match in last place in the NWSL standings and eliminated from playoff contention. The Stars are coming off a 3-0 loss to the Washington Spirit on Sunday at Martin Stadium. Chicago holds the worst road record in the NWSL, having won just once in 13 away matches at 1-11-1.

Friday marks the second meeting between Gotham FC and Chicago this season. Gotham FC earned a 2-0 road victory on April 29 behind goals from Dudley and Rose Lavelle, with Dudley scoring just 46 seconds into the match for her first professional goal. Guro Reiten assisted Lavelle’s goal, her first NWSL goal contribution with Gotham FC.

The victory extended Gotham FC’s recent run of success in one of the league’s longest-running matchups. Gotham FC holds a 9-13-13 record against Chicago all time but enters Friday undefeated in its last eight meetings with the Stars.

Following Friday’s match, Gotham FC will continue its two-match homestand against Angel City FC on Sunday, Oct. 4, at Sports Illustrated Stadium. Kickoff for the club’s penultimate home match of the regular season is set for 1 p.m. ET, with ABC carrying the national broadcast.

Key Points:

• Gotham FC is unbeaten in seven straight regular season meetings with the Chicago Stars (5-0-2) dating to the start of 2023, including a 2-0 road win on April 29. Prior to 2023, Gotham had recorded just three wins in 23 regular season meetings with the Stars (3-10-10).
• Gotham FC’s last eight regular season wins, dating to mid-July, have all come by one-goal margins, including a 2-1 victory over North Carolina on Saturday. Gotham has recorded 11 one-goal wins in 2026, the second most in a single season in NWSL history, trailing only Orlando’s 12 in 2024.
• Gotham FC is unbeaten in its last 10 NWSL regular season matches at home, the longest such streak in club history.
• Gotham FC has conceded just one goal against Chicago across the last five meetings in all NWSL competitions, keeping four clean sheets during that span.