Robert Lewandowski made his Major League Soccer and Chicago Fire debut on July 22, 2026, but Chicago Fire FC left Miami with a 3-2 loss to Inter Miami CF after Preston Plembeck scored the winner in the 87th minute.
The match gave Chicago Fire FC its first visit to Nu Stadium and drew 25,123, with the Fire coming in at 8-5-2 and 26 points. Inter Miami CF arrived at 10-2-4 with 34 points, and the teams played a game that shifted several times before the late finish.
Chicago opened the scoring in the 18th minute when Rocco Ríos Novo put the ball into his own net. Inter Miami CF answered in the 27th minute on a Luis Suárez penalty, then went ahead in the 51st minute on another Suárez goal. Puso Dithejane brought Chicago back level in the 67th minute, but Plembeck’s late strike decided it.
What Lewandowski's debut meant
Lewandowski played 63 minutes from the start, giving Chicago an immediate look at its newest attacking addition even in defeat. The debut was the biggest individual takeaway for the Fire, but the final result also showed how little margin there is in a road match against a team with Inter Miami CF's firepower.
Chicago generated 15 shots and four shots on goal, while Inter Miami CF finished with 14 shots and seven on target. That balance helps explain why the game stayed close, even as the home side found the one moment that mattered most.
The Fire will have a quick turnaround, with a scheduled match against New York City FC on Saturday, July 25 at 6:30 p.m. CT. After a debut like this, the next question is less about whether Lewandowski will play and more about how quickly he and Chicago can turn promising moments into points.
