Brady is the longest-serving member of the current trio. The Naperville native joined the Fire’s academy in 2017, signed as a Homegrown Player in 2020 and became the club’s established starter in 2023, the report says.
His United States side is scheduled to face Paraguay, Australia and Türkiye in the group stage. That gives Brady an immediate opportunity to turn a long progression through the Fire system into a global breakthrough.
Waterman brings tournament experience. He reportedly joined Chicago in August 2025, after representing Canada at the 2022 World Cup with CF Montréal. His return would give the Fire a player familiar with the demands of international football.
Mbokazi is the newest arrival. Signed in December 2025, he began the 2026 regular season as a starter and has also accumulated 10 South Africa caps, according to the report. South Africa’s group includes Mexico, Czechia and South Korea.
Chicago’s World Cup story began with Jorge Campos in 1998. DaMarcus Beasley and Josh Wolff followed for the United States in 2002, with Wolff contributing to the knockout-stage win over Mexico.
Xherdan Shaqiri ended a reported 20-year gap between Fire representatives when he was selected by Switzerland in 2022. His presence restored the club’s international profile before this latest trio extended it.
The next storyline is whether Brady, Waterman and Mbokazi can convert selection into meaningful minutes. For Chicago Fire, their tournament involvement could also strengthen the club’s appeal to future international-calibre recruits.