The Fire opened their inaugural season with a 2-0 win at Lockhart Stadium against Miami on March 21. Fifteen days later, the Fire would win their home opener against Tampa Bay, 2-0 in front of 36,444 vociferous fans at Soldier Field.

Among the stars was Polish star, Peter Nowak. Spurred by a midseason 11-game winning streak, the Fire would go on to finish second in the Western Conference with a solid 20-12 record.

In the playoffs, the Fire would continue their winning ways, narrowly edging the defending Western Conference champions Colorado Rapids. In the next round, the Fire went up against the best team in the league, the LA Galaxy.

In the first game at the Rose Bowl, the Fire would squeak out a 1-0 win by a Jesse Marsch goal in the 87th minute. Then back home, one week later, the Fire would send the Galaxy packing by beating them in a shootout and advance to MLS Cup.

1998 MLS Cup: The Fire would travel back to the Rose Bowl, but this time, not to face the Galaxy. They were to meet the only champion MLS had ever known in its two-year existence: DC United.

Two goals in the first half by Jerzy Podbrozny and Henry Guttierez were all the Fire needed as their steady goalkeeper, Zach Thornton kept United at bay to preserve a 2-0 victory and give MLS a new champion. For assisting on the two goals, Peter Nowak received MVP honors.

Later on, they would complete the "double" by winning the US Open Cup. They became only the second team in MLS to manage that.