Naperville Native Chris Brady Makes U.S. Men's National Team Roster for 2026 World Cup
Naperville native Chris Brady, the Chicago Fire goalkeeper, earned a spot on the U.S. Men's National Team roster for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The 22-year-old was signed as a Homegrown player by the Fire at age 16.
A Naperville native will represent the United States at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Chris Brady, the Chicago Fire's starting goalkeeper, earned a spot on the U.S. Men's National Team roster announced Tuesday.
Brady, 22, was born on March 3, 2004 in Naperville. He grew up playing soccer in the Chicagoland area before rising through the ranks to become one of the league's youngest professional goalkeepers.
From Naperville North to the World Stage
Brady originally attended Naperville North High School. He completed just three semesters there before signing his professional contract.
He joined the Chicago Fire Academy in 2017, competing at the U-14, U-15, U-16, and U-17 levels. The Fire signed Brady on a Homegrown contract on March 24, 2020, when he was just 16 years old. That made him the 19th Homegrown signing in Fire franchise history.
"A player that fits the Homegrown category is a youth soccer player who is directly signed to a MLS first-team roster from that specific club's official youth academy," according to FOX 32 Chicago.
Brady made his MLS debut on October 9, 2022. He has started all 106 games he has played in his career and recorded 364 career MLS saves.
Through 14 games in the 2026 season, Brady posted a career-high 74.2 save percentage.
World Cup Schedule
The 2026 FIFA World Cup runs from June 11 through July 19. The United States plays three group stage matches:
- June 12: USA vs. Paraguay at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles
- June 19: USA vs. Australia at Lumen Field in Seattle
- June 25: USA vs. Türkiye at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles
Those three results will determine whether the U.S. advances from the group stage. The Americans entered the tournament as a co-host nation, which gave them seeding advantages in the expanded 48-team format.
The U.S. has never won a knockout round match against a non-CONCACAF opponent. Their record in knockout World Cup matches stands at 1-7, with the lone victory coming against Mexico in 2002.
Since the first World Cup in 1930, the Americans have advanced furthest to the quarterfinals in 2002. They have lost eight straight knockout matches to European opponents since 2022, getting outscored 22-6 in those games.
A Homegrown Success Story
Brady's path from Naperville youth soccer to the World Cup stage represents the kind of development path Major League Soccer has invested in through its Homegrown Player Program.
He will be one of at least three goalkeepers on the 26-man U.S. roster. Each national team must carry a minimum of 23 players and a maximum of 26, with at least three goalkeepers required.
For Naperville, Brady's selection brings international attention to a community that helped develop one of American soccer's rising stars.