NASHVILLE, TN – On Thursday, Major League Soccer announced the 2026 MLS schedule.
1,020 matches are on the book for the 2026 season, the final year of the league's current spring-to-fall calendar cycle before switching to a European calendar. The 2026 season will also see the FIFA World Cup, the biggest event in sports, come to the United States, Canada and Mexico from June 11–July 19, bringing the eyes of the world to the country – and hopefully the league.
As Nashville SC look to continue their growth and push for more silverware, we're breaking down the most pivotal matches on their 2026 schedule.
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Orlando City – March 21 (Home)
Nashville and Orlando have developed an organic rivalry over the years. They've played each other 17 times over the years, making the Lions Nashville's second-most frequent opponents after Inter Miami.
The last time Orlando visited Geodis Park, they rotated heavily and got thumped 5-1, with Hany Mukhtar and Sam Surridge each bagging a brace. Nashville will be looking for a similarly emphatic performance to give their season an early boost, and with the game broadcast on FOX, even more eyes will be on Music City.
Los Angeles FC – May 17 (Home)
Nashville will get a visit from Western Conference juggernauts Los Angeles FC on May 17. It will be the fifth time the two sides have played each other, with the Black & Gold getting a 5-0 win in their last meeting in 2024, the biggest margin of defeat in Nashville's history.
With a pair of superstars in Dénis Bouanga and Heung-min Son taking on the 'Yotes at Geodis Park, this is an easy marquee matchup. Getting the full Sunday Night Soccer treatment adds to the allure.
Atlanta United – July 17 (Home)
Nashville SC will be one of the first teams to resume play after the World Cup break. The World Cup semifinals will wrap up on July 15, and MLS will launch into a series of rivalry matches on July 16-17 before the third-place match on July 18 and the World Cup final on July 19 in New York.
The Boys In Gold will take on rivals Atlanta United in a Friday night matchup on broadcast television. They've played each other 14 times, making the Five Stripes Nashville's third most frequent opponent, but Nashville haven't beaten them at Geodis Park since April 2023. Getting a win to kick start the home stretch of the season will be crucial.
August 15 – Inter Miami (Home)
Nashville's home match against Miami will be the 20th all-time meeting between the 2020 expansion brothers. They played each other four times to close out the 2025 campaign, with Nashville's season ended in a dismal 4-0 loss in Ft. Lauderdale in the final match of their Round One best-of-three series.
Ben Wright
Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets are retiring, but Lionel Messi will still be on the field, running the show for the Herons. If Nashville want to truly compete at the top of the Eastern Conference, this is the type of match they have to be able to win. The Miami match also kicks off a crucial (and frankly, brutal) stretch in Nashville's season, with a difficult midweek road trip to New York Red Bulls followed up by...
August 22 – Columbus Crew (Home)
Nashville picked up four points from two matches against the Columbus Crew last season, with their 3-0 win at Geodis Park arguably their most complete performance of the 2025 season.
Ben Wright
The Crew may look quite different in 2026, with Wilfried Nancy heavily linked to take over the manager job at Scottish powerhouse Celtic. Whoever is on the touchline, the Crew will be one of the top contenders in the Eastern Conference. Nashville had their number last year. They'll need to have a similar showing in 2026.
August 29 – FC Cincinnati (Home)
Nashville and Cincinnati have flirted with a rivalry, although it certainly doesn't have the same juice as it had during the 2018 USL Championship season. With Cincinnati consistently at the top of the Eastern Conference, they've turned into a juggernaut, and one that Nashville haven't had much success against in recent years.
Nashville haven't beaten the Garys since an improbable away win in May 2024 under interim head coach Rumba Munthali. Nashville lost 2-1 at Geodis Park the last time the two sides played, and if they want to improve their sixth-place finish in 2025, this is the type of match that they have to win.
September 4 – New York City FC (Away)
Nashville's Labor Day trip to New York closes off arguably the most difficult stretch of the seasons, playing Miami, Red Bull New York, Columbus, Cincinnati and NYCFC in 20 days.
2026 schedule. 5-game rolling average for NSC opponents' form.
— Nashville SC Stats (@NSC_Stats) November 20, 2025
🟡Tough start. Especially with CCC
🔵Easy run around the World Cup break
🟡Dog days of summer will be BRUTAL
🔵Stay alive during the end of summer, and it's an easy run through the end pic.twitter.com/gxakPKdS2b
This will be the season-defining stretch of the campaign. Nashville have never won on the road to NYCFC, losing three of their four attempts. It would be nice for the 'Yotes to win at Yankee Stadium before New York open their brand new stadium in 2027. The match also closes out the most difficult portion of the regular season.
September 12 – Inter Miami (Away)
Yep, Miami again. This time in their brand new Miami Freedom Park, set to open in early 2026. The stadium is set to be one of the very best in MLS. Nashville also haven't won in Miami since their dominant 5–1 beatdown in September 2021. This will be a trip worth making for Nashville fans.
October 10 – Austin FC (Away)
Remember last time Nashville went to Q2 Stadium? Yeah, that worked out pretty well.
Ben Wright
Nashville don't have many trips to the Western Conference in 2026. They'll go to FC Dallas (Feb. 28) and San Jose Earthquakes (October 17). While it's hard to call whatever is between them and Austin a "rivalry", the two sides clearly don't like each other. Can Nashville get another win on the site of their first-ever trophy?
October 28 – Philadelphia Union (Home)
Nashville SC's 1-0 win over the Philadelphia Union last season was one of the most memorable wins of the campaign. Playing a man down for the final 30 minutes, Hany Mukhtar smashed home a penalty kick late in second-half stoppage time to send a sellout Geodis Park crowd into euphoria on July 4th weekend.
Valair Shabilla
Nashville swept the Union last year, beating them 3-1 on the road early in the season and cruising past them in the US Open Cup semifinals via a Sam Surridge hat-trick. BJ Callaghan has had his old club's number, despite them winning the Supporters' Shield last season. In the penultimate home match of the 2026 season, a win here could be crucial for Nashville's position in the final table.
November 7 – FC Cincinnati (Away)
Nashville close out the regular season with a Decision Day clash in Cincinnati. These two sides should be towards the top of the table. They don't like each other. Cincinnati won both of their 2025 meetings in second-half stoppage time.
Cincinnati's an easy drive from Nashville, reachable in under five hours. This will be a massive match. Put this one on your list.
