Can Chicago Fire play Vancouver Whitecaps tonight? Air quality, AQI, wildfire smoke impact potential MLS postponement

MLS returns to action on Thursday from its break for the World Cup.

The schedule includes the Chicago Fire hosting the Vancouver Whitecaps at 7:30 p.m. local time in Chicago.

The air quality, though, which has been impacted by wildfire smoke coming from northern Minnesota and across the Canadian border, doesn't look ideal.

Professional sports leagues have postponed matches for poor air quality before, so it wouldn't be unprecedented to consider if something could be in play in Chicago on Thursday night.

Can Chicago Fire and Vancouver Whitecaps play tonight?

Nothing is inherently stopping the Fire and Whitecaps from playing, but the Air Quality Index (AQI) numbers in Chicago are far from ideal.

As of 12 noon Central Time, the AQI in Chicago is at 244.

That falls in the "very unhealthy" category.

Between 101 and 150 is unhealthy for sensitive groups. Between 151 and 200 is unhealthy for all groups.

Above 200 gets that "very unhealthy" label.

Back in 2023, Major League Baseball postponed multiple games when the numbers got into the mid-to-high 200s on the AQI scale.

Chicago likely will wait to make any sort of call until later in the day, but it's something that bears watching.

Playing soccer in such conditions is more risky than it would be for an MLS player to simply stand outside, because intense exertion requires heavier breathing, which means breathing in more of the pollutants.

It's certainly not an ideal situation for the Fire and Whitecaps.

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