Joel Waterman Shines in Return to MLS with Chicago Fire’s Victory Over CF Montréal

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Joel Waterman’s return to Major League Soccer saw him adapt well as the Chicago Fire faced off against CF Montréal last weekend. The Fire secured a 2-0 victory, marking Waterman’s first appearance at Stade Saputo since his trade to Chicago during the 2025 MLS season.

Waterman, who previously played over 150 matches for CF Montréal from 2020 to 2025 after joining from Cavalry FC in the Canadian Premier League, faced an emotional reunion with the province of Québec. He had to demonstrate his versatility by stepping into a midfield role alongside Mauricio Pineda, due to injuries and a suspension for Dje D’Avilla.

This was not Waterman’s first time playing as a midfielder in MLS, but it was his initial outing in that position for the Chicago Fire. He performed admirably throughout the match.

“We were down some bodies, so I thought it would be a possibility after the D.C. game,” Waterman commented after the match. “I played a couple of times there even last year with Montréal and a couple of times in my career, but I haven’t played there in a long time…

“it’s a bit different. Obviously, you have to keep your head on a swivel more, check your shoulder, angles. You’ve got to run a lot more, do the dirty work for the team.

“I played there a couple of times in my career, and I kind of have an understanding of the position, but I just wanted to keep things simple. My mindset was keeping it simple, just doing the right things behind the ball, and giving my teammates the best opportunity to score goals and to do what they do best.”

The victory was particularly meaningful for Waterman, as it allowed him to pay tribute to many in the CF Montréal organization who gave him his first chance in MLS, while also demonstrating his talent in a different role.

“I have a lot of respect for the club. The chance they took on me coming out of the CPL and giving me my opportunity. Yeah, six seasons I was here, so just to see where I’ve come from, like I said, all the good memories, all the great people that I’ve worked with in the past…

“I saw some very familiar faces and friends, though, which was really good. Then some teammates, old teammates of mine, that were recently at my wedding. Yeah, it goes full circle.

“Like I said, I really miss this place. It was a really, really amazing chapter of my life. Yeah, just playing in front of the fans again, seeing the guys, seeing the staff members that I worked so closely with for six seasons, it was really special.”

Waterman hopes that the Fire’s victory at Stade Saputo will not be his only match in Canada in the coming months. He is eyeing a likely spot on the Canadian Men’s National Team roster for the upcoming FIFA Men’s World Cup in Canada, the United States, and Mexico. This would be his second World Cup appearance, having participated in the 2022 edition in Qatar.

His inclusion in coach Jesse Marsch’s roster remains a top priority for Waterman. Earlier this year, he mentioned to On Tap Sports Net that he wants to be present when Canada takes the field in Toronto, although he remains focused on his responsibilities with the Chicago Fire.

“I haven’t really thought about it that much. Obviously it’s so close now that you have really no choice, but I’m just trying to stay focused on, obviously, club form and putting my best foot forward for this team, and then the World Cup will happen when it does.

“I think I’ve done enough to earn a spot on that team, and I really hope I get the opportunity to represent my country. I think for any camp, but especially the World Cup, it’s every kid’s dream.”