Anticipation was running high in Chicago as the 2026 MLS season resumes. Chicago Fire fans were buzzing ahead of tonight’s clash against the Vancouver Whitecaps, with all eyes locked on the club’s marquee new signing, Robert Lewandowski. But unfortunately, his MLS debut will have to wait.
Lewandowski was expected to make his MLS debut for the Chicago Fire today, after completing his high-profile transfer as a free agent after playing for FC Barcelona. But the Chicago Fire vs Vancouver Whitecaps match has been postponed due to unsafe air quality in Chicago, postponing Lewandowski’s first game in the Windy City. The Chicago Fire later announced that the game has been rescheduled for Tuesday, October 6.
Lewandowski, who sat out the 2026 World Cup, has utilized the break to settle in with Chicago and prepare for the next chapter of his storied career. He arrives in MLS looking to make an immediate impact and challenge fellow global icon Lionel Messi, who recently sent waves through the soccer world with a post-match message following Argentina’s dramatic semifinal victory over England in the World Cup.
Following months of intense transfer rumors linking him to various clubs worldwide, Lewandowski ultimately chose the United States. In doing so, he follows in the footsteps of European legends like David Beckham and Thierry Henry, who made the leap across the Atlantic after conquering Europe.
Lewandowski vs. Muller: Familiar foes reconnect
If both are fit on October 6, former Bayern Munich teammates Lewandowski and Thomas Muller would go head-to-head on opposite sides of the pitch.
The two forwards spent eight highly successful seasons together in Germany, sharing the pitch 333 times while claiming eight Bundesliga titles and lifting the UEFA Champions League trophy in 2020. Tonight, that storied partnership is put on hold as they battle for three crucial points.
