Soldier Field sold out for Chicago Fire match against Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami

CHICAGO (WLS) — A sold-out crowd was expected to fill Soldier Field as fans gathered for a highly anticipated matchup between the Chicago Fire and Inter Miami, featuring soccer superstars Lionel Messi and Robert Lewandowski.

Throngs of fans arrived at the stadium ahead of the match, eager to witness two of the sport’s biggest names share the field.

“Everybody’s pumped. I see everybody so excited and happy, even people parking they’re all like waving,” said Messi fan Irma Fierros.

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Joaquin Negron, a Chicago Fire fan, said the excitement was evident throughout the crowd.

“It’s really special, like you could just see, you could see all the intense fans and how ready they are, like I can’t even stand still cuz that’s how excited I am,” Negron said.

The match pits the Fire against Messi’s Inter Miami. For many fans, the game represents a rare opportunity to see the soccer legend in person.

“It means really a lot to me. I’ve been wanting to see him for a very long time long, so I’m excited to see him,” said Messi fan John Field.

Emily Garcia echoed that sentiment.

“Like we get to see him live, and that’s pretty cool,” Garcia said.

While much of the attention centered on Messi, Chicago Fire supporters were also looking forward to seeing striker Robert Lewandowski, Poland’s all-time top scorer, who joined the Fire in late June.

“It’s a pretty big deal for Polish people especially because one of the best Polish players, just means a lot,” said Jakub Potoniec, a Lewandowski fan.

Kellan Lesniak, a Chicago Fire fan, said Lewandowski’s presence added a personal connection to the match.

“I’m really grateful that I can go to this game. I’m also actually half-Polish, so it’s cool I get to see Lewandowski,” Lesniak said.

The game marks the first time Messi and Lewandowski have shared an MLS field. It also comes a little more than a week after Messi announced his retirement from Argentina’s national team.

“Messi truly is the GOAT, the greatest of all time, and now that he’s retiring from Argentina, I feel like this might be one of our last shots to see him,” said Messi fan Kelsey Field.

Messi, 39, last played at Soldier Field in 2025. He missed a game there in 2023 because of injury.