Chicago Fire FC and Bafana Bafana defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi will miss the remainder of the 2026 Major League Soccer [MLS] season following an injury setback.
Mbokazi’s coach at Chicago Fire, Gregg Berhalter, confirmed on Thursday, August 6, that the 20-year-old centre-back sustained a thigh tear shortly after returning from his impressive campaign with South Africa at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America.
Mbokazi delivered stellar displays in his debut season in the USA. After securing a transfer to Chicago Fire in December 2025 from the reigning Betway Premiership champions Orlando Pirates, the young defender quickly established himself as one of the key players in Berhalter’s backline.
He started all 12 of his regular-season appearances for Chicago Fire, earning his praises for his composure and maturity on the pitch.
His standout performances did not go unnoticed by supporters. Mbokazi earned the highest number of fan votes for the 2026 MLS All-Star Game presented by Chime, though the initial onset of his injury ultimately forced him to sit out the showcase event.
MBEKEZELI MBOKAZI’S WORLD CUP HEROICS WITH BAFANA BAFANA
Under the guidance of Belgian mentor Hugo Broos, Mbokazi played every single minute of Bafana’s 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign.
His satisfying defensive performances helped Bafana reach the knockout stage of the World Cup for the first time in the nation’s history. South Africa’s historic run eventually came to an end in the Round of 32 following a 1-0 defeat to co-hosts Canada.
CHICAGO FIRE COACH GREGG BERHALTER CONFIRMS MBEKEZELI MBOKAZI’S INJURY BLOW TIMELINE
Speaking to Apple TV ahead of Chicago Fire’s fixture against Club Necaxa in the early hours of this morning, coach Berhalter reflected on the loss of ‘TLB’, while rallying his squad to step up in Mbokazi’s absence.
“Mbokazi being out for the year is a tough one,” Berhalter admitted as quoted by the MLS website. “It’s really about the next person stepping up and being a team that’s hard to score on. Closing the spaces, being compact. We’re working on that now, and I think today you’re going to see that.”
The team responded immediately to their coach’s call. Chicago Fire went on to secure a 2-0 victory over Necaxa in a League Cup opener at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview, demonstrating the defensive compactness Berhalter demanded.
While Chicago Fire showed they can deliver results without their star defender, losing Mbokazi for the rest of the 2026 campaign remains a heavy blow for both club and country as the young defender begins his road to recovery.
HOW MBOKAZI’S INJURY IS A BIG BLOW FOR BAFANA
Mbokazi is set to miss the start of Bafana Bafana’s 2027 Africa Cup of Nations [AFCON] qualifying campaign, which kicks off in September 2026. South Africa have been drawn in Group D alongside Guinea, Eritrea, and Kenya.
The defender, affectionately known as ‘TLB’, will be unavailable when Bafana take on Guinea and Eritrea in September, as well as for the crucial back-to-back fixtures against Kenya in November.
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