Lewandowski's first Major League Soccer appearance delayed due to poor air conditions

The highly anticipated Major League Soccer debut of Polish star Robert Lewandowski has been delayed, as the match between the Chicago Fire and Vancouver Whitecaps was postponed on Thursday due to air quality concerns stemming from wildfires.

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The wildfires, which are currently ravaging the Canadian province of Ontario, have caused smoke to spread into the United States, particularly affecting border states such as Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Illinois.

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The scheduled match at the Chicago Fire's stadium, which was set to take place on Thursday, has been rescheduled for October 6, according to a statement released by the club.

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The decision to reschedule the match was made in consultation with local health experts, MLS, Vancouver Whitecaps FC, and the City of Chicago, as stated by the Fire.

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Approximately 40,000 fans were expected to attend the match at Soldier Field, which was part of MLS's restart following its World Cup break.

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Lewandowski, who recently joined the team from Barcelona after helping the Spanish giants win the La Liga title last month, was expected to play his first MLS minutes in a matchup against Thomas Mueller, his former teammate at Bayern Munich.

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Lewandowski's next opportunity to make his MLS debut will be on Wednesday against Inter Miami, where Lionel Messi is not expected to play due to his participation in the World Cup final on Sunday.

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Illinois was among the US states most severely impacted by the smoke from the fires, with the state experiencing poor air quality.

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A haze also hung over the New York City area, where Messi's Argentina is set to face Spain in the World Cup final on Sunday.

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New York state authorities issued a warning about the fine particulate matter from the fires, stating that being outdoors would be "unhealthy".