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Mbekezeli Mbokazi Injury Update & Potential Return Date

Charlie Zschau Updated: Jul 29 2026 19:34

Updated on Chicago Fire defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi's injury, and when he could return to play in MLS.

Chicago Fire center back Mbekezeli Mbokazi suffered a severe thigh injury during a late July training session, and expected to miss an extended period of time.

Mbokazi, 20, is coming off an impressive performance with South Africa at the 2026 World Cup, where he played all 90-minutes of the Bafana Bafana's four matches, ending with a loss to Canada in the Round of 32. The young center back was a huge reason that South Africa qualified for their first World Cup knockout round.

The promising defender has since been ruled out of the MLS All-Stars vs. LIGA MX All-Stars game in Charlotte on July 29th, where he was set to become South Africa's first MLS All-Star starter.

Doctor Khumalo will remain has the only South African to play in the All-Star game, appearing in the inaugural event 30 years ago. Khumalo, an attacking midfielder came off the bench for the MLS East against the MLS West.

Mbokazi joined the Chicago Fire from the Orlando Pirates in South Africa before the start of the 2026 MLS season. He has shown the promise of a future star in his 12 starts, but manager Greg Berhalter will have to look for other options at center back for the foreseeable future.

Mbekezeli Mbokazi's Possible Return Date

"He's going to be out a while. He took a shot in training, hit the ground a little bit, scuffed the ground, and ended up tearing his thigh" Berhalter told media.

It is widely assumed that Mbokazi will be recovering on the sidelines for the next two months. That timeline, if accurate, will have Mbokazi back in training and possibly playing against Nashville SC on September 26th, or Charlotte FC on October 6, 2026.

In Mbokazi's absence, Jack Elliott and Joel Waterman are the most likely center back pairing for Berhalter, with Sam Rogers and Christopher Cupps filling in off the bench.