After missing Barcelona’s 2025–26 season opener against Mallorca due to physical issues, Robert Lewandowski is now ready to rejoin the squad and begin another campaign in La Liga. At the same time, he has made a key decision regarding the FIFA World Cup 2026.
In June of this year, Lewandowski had announced his retirement from the Poland national team, citing irreconcilable differences with then-head coach Michal Probierz. “Given the circumstances and the loss of trust from the Polish national team coach, I’ve decided to step away from the team as long as he remains in charge,” the forward wrote at the time on social media.
That controversy, combined with underwhelming performances, led to Probierz’s departure just four days after Robert’s announcement. The Polish Football Association moved quickly and appointed Jan Urban in his place, and the new coach understandably prioritized bringing Lewandowski back, given the striker’s massive influence both on and off the pitch. And hat mission was successful.
“I spoke with Robert on the phone and asked if he wanted to come back. He said yes, so we’ve taken a step forward,” Urban said, according to Mundo Deportivo. “It would have been a big problem if our best player, our star, stopped playing.”
New head coach of Poland, Jan Urban.
A decision to make for Poland
With Robert Lewandowski now officially back following the coaching change, there’s still one unresolved issue ahead of Poland’s upcoming matches: who will wear the captain’s armband. The Barcelona striker has often held that role in recent years, but there are other players with enough authority to take it on.
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“I don’t just want to talk to Robert, but also with those involved — Piotr Zielinski and other players. The decision is mine, but I want to hear from the players and understand their opinions,” said Jan Urban when asked about the situation.
How is Poland doing in World Cup qualifying?
Poland are part of Group G in European qualifying. They’ve played three matches so far, with two wins (against Lithuania and Malta) and one loss (to Finland). That puts them in third place in the standings with 6 points — currently outside the qualification zone for the next World Cup.
The group also includes the Netherlands, who are the favorites to secure the top spot and a direct ticket to the tournament. That means, if Poland want to dream of reaching the United States, Mexico, and Canada, they’ll need to compete seriously for at least second place. In the September international break, they’ll face the Netherlands and Finland.
