ไทย
English
中國人
Robert Lewandowski could make his Major League Soccer debut on Thursday as the league resumes following the World Cup, with his new Chicago Fire taking on Western Conference leaders Vancouver Whitecaps, who are spearheaded by longtime former teammate Thomas Müller.
While a move to MLS had been speculated for some time, it wasn't until this summer that it finally materialized. The decision stemmed not only from a fresh opportunity, but also from his deep loyalty to Barcelona, for whom he netted 120 goals across 193 appearances over four seasons.
"I decided that after Barcelona is over for me, I didn't want to stay in Europe," Lewandowski told reporters at his introductory press conference earlier this week, following his arrival after a break during the European offseason.
"I didn't want to play anymore after Barcelona and a different club [in Europe]. From one side, of course, that was a difficult decision for me, for my family, to move outside of Europe. But on the other side, we know that we wanted to go to a different club because of what we did in Barcelona. I couldn't imagine myself in a new [European] club besides Barcelona."
Fitting right in 🔥 pic.twitter.com/kTXaSfyMNH
The Polish forward is poised to become a major icon in Chicago, which, according to the 2023 census, is home to over 720,000 residents of Polish heritage — more than any other city in the United States.
"It's a different league and a different style of football—or a different way of looking at the game—where it's not just about the goals, but also about everything happening both on and off the pitch," he said.
"I'll also be observing how things look and function, which promises to be an interesting experience. It will likely mark another milestone in my personal and footballing development. After all, every league is different, and we're well aware of the landscape in the U.S., including how fans and the general public view sports there."
MLS Debut Awaits Against Former Teammate Thomas Müller
Lewandowski has shared the pitch with hundreds of teammates throughout his career, but none more frequently than Müller — the two lined up together 333 times during their trophy-laden years at FC Bayern. It's therefore quite fitting that his debut could see them reunited on the field, potentially for just the 23rd time as rivals.
"I spoke with (former Fire midfielder) Bastian [Schweinsteiger] and Thomas about how it's going, and how they see the league and how they see the difference," Lewandowski said regarding his conversations with former teammates who had already made the move to MLS.
"Both of them explained to me how it works … I am sure that with my new team, we can take a big step forward. They're doing a great job. I'm here not only to play at the top level, but also to help the team take a step forward, both on and off the pitch."
While Lewandowski is unlikely to start, he is expected to come on as a second-half substitute. The Fire, under the guidance of former U.S. men's national team head coach Gregg Berhalter, will also need to find a way to integrate him while preserving the momentum of MLS Golden Boot leader Hugo Cuypers — previously the club's top Designated Player.
Müller, meanwhile, spent much of the 2026 World Cup serving as a television pundit, but returned to Vancouver and featured twice, including on Monday, in a two-legged Canadian Championship quarterfinal victory over Canadian Premier League outfit Cavalry FC.
Off to Robert Lewatomorrownogoalski ⚽️🫶🏼@lewy_official #Chicago #mls #vwfc pic.twitter.com/dnJ5SFIbav
"I'm really looking forward to seeing him ... We had very good times together, and I'm sure he will enjoy it. I'm happy that he is not at our conference. I wish him the best of luck. He should score goals, goals, goals, but not tomorrow," Müller told reporters in Vancouver.
"He was always competitive. He wants to score goals. He's always fit. He's always physical... but on the other side, outside of the pitch, you can have fun with him. But that was back in the day — now we are opponents."
Thursday's fixture is one of six MLS matches scheduled between the World Cup semifinals and the final, with the league aiming to capitalize on the surge of soccer enthusiasm in the U.S., further fueled by Inter Miami's Lionel Messi, who continues to deliver standout moments during Argentina's run to the World Cup final.
Currently sitting outside the MLS Cup playoff positions, the Fire must rediscover their best form and manage the challenge of blending Cuypers' attacking threat with Lewandowski's presence. It all kicks off with two Bayern legends on the pitch in front of an expected crowd of more than 30,000.
"Robert has scored over 700 career goals; he has the most goals in the top five leagues in the last 15 years," Berhalter told reporters. "We have a good team right now. I think Robert is a piece that can help take us to the top."