The soccer community is grieving a big loss.
Ilona Löwen, the wife of St. Louis City star Eduard Löwen, died of brain cancer, the MLS club announced.
Löwen was 28, per the St. Louis Post-Dispatch .
"After a two-year battle with cancer, Ilona Löwen passed away this morning, March 9, 2026," St. Louis City wrote in a statement. "We grieve alongside Edu and all those impacted by this loss and ask the City community to keep them in your prayers during this difficult time. Ilona was a beautiful example of love, humility, and kindness and will be deeply missed."
The German midfielder announced his wife's cancer diagnosis in 2024 and had taken time away from the team to care for her.
He took a leave of absence again in 2025 before returning for the second half of the season.
This season, however, he has not played a game yet for St. Louis.
"We're heartbroken to hear of Ilona Löwen's passing, and we send our deepest condolences and love to Eduard Löwen, his family, and the entire St. Louis City community," MLS said in a statement.
Eduard Löwen #10 of St. Louis CITY SC controls the ball during the MLS match between St. Louis CITY SC and Los Angeles Football Club at Citypark on September 27, 2025 in St Louis, Missouri. MLS via Getty Images
St. Louis City also shared a message from the Löwen family's pastor, Marc Sikma.
"Edu and Ilona built their life on faith in Christ, and we find comfort in knowing Ilona's suffering is over and that she is now in the eternal presence of her Savior," the message said.
Löwen signed with St. Louis City in 2022 as a designated player after spending his entire career in his homeland, Germany.
In his four-year MLS career, he has 17 goals and nine assists in 71 regular-season matches.
