Robert Lewandowski the Headliner, as Fire Set for Majestic Homecoming
Thursday can’t get here soon enough for Chicago Fire fans.
With the entire continent still consumed by World Cup fever, MLS finally returns from a 53-day break.
The Men in Red host the Vancouver Whitecaps in what is set to be a true spectacle at Soldier Field.
Among the many storylines surrounding this marquee matchup, one stands out: the potential debut of Robert Lewandowski.
A Signing of Seismic Proportions
It’s no secret that the Fire’s front office has been incredibly ambitious in the transfer market recently. The arrival of Lewandowski has been months, if not years, in the making.
Even so, his formal presentation and first press conference on Tuesday felt surreal.
Head coach Gregg Berhalter spoke to a packed press room at the Endeavor Health Performance Center.
“This is a historic day, not only for Chicago Fire FC, but for the city of Chicago and for MLS as a whole. Just to give you some context on how big of a signing this actually is – Robert has scored over 700 career goals.”
As to exactly how the club enticed a 700-goal striker and a global football icon to sign with them, Lewandowski himself offered some insight.
The Pole explained it as such, also praising the quality of the training facilities:
“I wasn’t as impressed by the offer, but rather by how much the club tried to show me how much they wanted me.”
Two former Bayern Munich teammates appeared to nudge Lewandowski in the right direction as well.
“I spoke with Bastian [Schweinsteiger] and Thomas [Muller],” the striker revealed. “When I started asking about not only the MLS, but also the city and how they looked at the club, they told me that it’s amazing.”
On Thursday, Lewandowski will take the first step towards emulating Schweinsteiger’s Fire legacy. Incredibly, he’ll do it in a clash against none other than Muller and the Vancouver Whitecaps.
A Big Occasion On and Off the Pitch
Amidst all the buzz surrounding the big-name arrival, a number of notable subplots have gone under the radar. First and foremost, Thursday’s match will have massive competitive implications. The Fire currently sit 3rd in the Eastern Conference standings and are riding a three-game winning run from before the break. Their midweek foes, the Whitecaps, currently top the West and are just one point off top spot in the Supporters’ Shield table. Three points would help both sides immensely.
The game also serves as a Berhalter family reunion. Gregg and son Sebastian will lock horns for just the second time. In their only previous matchup, the former USMNT manager got the better of the current national team player. The younger Berhalter will be one of six World Cup returnees involved in the lakefront duel. The Fire’s Chris Brady, Mbekezeli Mbokazi, and Joel Waterman are all set to be available, as are Vancouver’s Andres Cubas and Rayan Elloumi.
Lewandowski’s showdown with Muller should draw a massive crowd to Soldier Field, despite the weekday scheduling. For any fans that may not have been enticed enough by the stars on the pitch, the post-game show might do the trick. Musical duo Two Friends will entertain Fire fans after the final whistle as part of the club’s Summer Concert Series.
A Spectacle Awaits
For a multitude of reasons, the Fire-Whitecaps bout is an absolute must-watch.
Nestled neatly between the World Cup semifinals and final, the game has all the makings of an MLS classic.
Kickoff at Soldier Field is slated for 7:30 pm on Thursday with live coverage on Apple TV.
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