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Harold Osorio's MLS Debut is 'just the beginning'

Originally posted on On Tap Sports Net | By Joe Chatz | Last updated Mar 5, 2025 11:14 PM ET

It was a moment years in the making for Harold Osorio at the end of the Chicago Fire’s 2025 home opener against DC United.

The Salvadoran midfielder made his MLS debut in the final moments of second half stoppage time at Soldier Field and although that cameo saw his side concede a miraculous last-second goal, Osorio’s debut is not something to be forgotten.

Osorio signed with Chicago Fire II in 2022 from Alianza FC in his native El Salvador and finally made his MLS Next Pro debut off the bench during a 2-0 win over Toronto FC II on March 30, 2023. He’s since notched 12 goals and six assists in the league while scoring once in Fire II’s 2024 US Open Cup run.

Only under contract with Fire II through the 2025 season, Osorio hit a major milestone when he made his MLS debut on March 1.

“It was a special night,” Osorio said after the Fire’s training session on Wednesday, “it was my dream and I worked hard for it. And I’m happy because it’s not only my dream, because my family and my friends, everybody in El Salvador supports me, and I did not want to disappoint.

“But that’s just the beginning. I want to go up [to MLS] and I need to keep my level of play high.”

Osorio, 21, initially signed with Fire II as an 18-year-old and has spent the last three years adjusting to life away from his family in El Salvador. Despite the distance between them, he was able to share the joy of making his MLS debut with his loved ones back home.

“My mom, I think she was crying, and my father too. Our friends, close friends [were together] and it was good for me and for everybody around me.”

The love has always been felt from his family and friends, but he learned how to cope with the difficulties of being far from home after dealing with multiple knocks, including a concussion that kept him out for months in 2023.

“It's hard, hard to experience being away from my family. It is hard but I like the challenge. I am prepared for this challenge and I feel great now…

“[The concussion] was so hard because every day I couldn’t do my job. I enjoy being able to play and not being able to do it was the worst thing for me. But everyone from El Salvador talked to me and told me ‘be patient, be strong,’ so my friends helped me."

Osorio spent the preseason with the Fire’s first team during their trips to Florida and California as well as their time in Chicago. He was also signed to a short-term agreement ahead of the Fire’s season opener in Columbus but did not feature against the Crew.

“It was important for me because it was the first time with the first team, every day with the first thing. And it was good for me. Now I feel normal with the first team. And it gave confidence to me because I feel like I can play in this league and that’s important because you need that belief.”

Osorio has earned the trust of his teammates and head coach Gregg Berhalter over these past few months and the new coach has been encouraging the young midfielder throughout his short time with the club.

Now it’s up to the midfielder to take advantage of the first team opportunities that he will have in 2025.

What’s On Tap Next?

The Fire will be in Frisco, Texas on March 8 to take on FC Dallas. The match is scheduled to kick off at 7:30 p.m. CT and will be broadcast on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV+.

This article first appeared on On Tap Sports Net and was syndicated with permission.

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