Robert Lewandowski’s first Major League Soccer appearance for the Chicago Fire was delayed on Thursday. The scheduled game against the Vancouver Whitecaps could not proceed because of poor air quality resulting from Canadian wildfires.
Smoke from the Ontario blazes drifted into the United States, severely impacting air conditions in states such as Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. The Chicago Fire announced that the match at Soldier Field, which had an anticipated attendance of 40,000, has been moved to October 6.
Club officials stated that they coordinated with MLS, city representatives, and medical experts before making the decision. This match was meant to feature a reunion between Lewandowski and his former Bayern Munich colleague, Thomas Mueller. The Polish striker will now likely make his league debut next Wednesday against Inter Miami. Meanwhile, environmental warnings persist in other regions, including New York, where authorities have cautioned residents about unhealthy particulate levels ahead of the upcoming World Cup final.
