It was a night of soccer, stories and a little World Cup magic as Magellan and Chicago Fire FC welcomed more than 80 guests to IGNITE, an exclusive gathering at The Clayton in Chicago on Tuesday, September 29.

The evening brought together Magellan customers, business partners, employees and friends, along with Chicago Fire coaches and staff, for an opportunity to spend time with some of the biggest names in Chicago soccer, past and present.

Among the special guests were current Fire players Jack Elliott, Sam Rogers, Maren Haile-Selassie and Andrew Gutman, along with familiar faces from the club's history: Frank Klopas, Mike Magee, C.J. Brown and Omar González.

The centerpiece of the evening was a conversation with Chicago Fire Head Coach Gregg Berhalter, whose relationship with the World Cup is particularly remarkable. Gregg represented the United States as a player before returning to the tournament as head coach of the U.S. Men's National Team in 2022. This summer, he experienced the World Cup from an entirely different perspective: as the father of U.S. midfielder Sebastian Berhalter.

Gregg shared insights from those three very different vantage points, offering guests a rare look at the world's biggest soccer tournament through the eyes of a player, coach and proud parent.

The Fire also had a special presentation for Magellan's Bob Arthur: an official match ball from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, signed by the entire U.S. Men's National Team roster.

And as if the evening needed another highlight, guests watched the U.S. Men's National Team take on Chile in an international friendly. Sebastian Berhalter provided the perfect finishing touch, scoring the opening goal for the United States in what became a thrilling 4–2 American victory.

Our thanks to Chicago Fire FC, its players, coaches and alumni, and everyone who joined us for a memorable evening celebrating soccer, friendship and the connections that bring us together.

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