Analysis: Expectations for every member of Nashville SC's squad in 2026

Believe it or not, the 2026 MLS season is just nine days away! Nashville SC will begin their campaign even earlier, starting the year with a Concacaf Champions Cup clash against Atlético Ottawa in just five days.

Here at SixOneFive Soccer, we're breaking down Nashville SC's roster player by player, previewing expectations for the squad, and analyzing strengths and potential weaknesses for the group.

First off, some quick math. In 2025, Nashville SC's regular-season matches were an average of 101.5 minutes long, per American Soccer Analysis. This number includes stoppage time. With 34 matches in the regular season and 11 players on the field, that means Nashville should have roughly 37,950 minutes to distribute among their players. Across the MLS regular season, there are 374 starts available, and up to 544 total appearances to divvy up, assuming head coach BJ Callaghan utilizes all five allowed substitutions in all 34 matches.

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I'm going to go through each player currently on the 2026 roster and attempt to give reasonable and realistic expectations for what their roles and performances should look like during the upcoming season.

It's worth giving a caveat that these are educated guesses at best, and seasons are wildly unpredictable. Injuries happen, and players develop out of nowhere and defy expectations. Nashville will also play in Leagues Cup and Concacaf Champions Cup this season, meaning they'll likely rotate more in MLS play than in a typical season. The lengthy summer break during the 2026 FIFA World Cup is yet another variable.

There are a few positions – winger, midfielder, and fullback – where Nashville really need to add players in order to be able to handle the rigors of a full season in multiple competitions. I fully expect more players in these positions by the end of the season (and I may update this down the road if significant roster moves occur).

These predictions will inevitably be wrong to some extent. My goal is to get close.

One other note: for familiarity's sake, I've used the classic FIFA (no, I refuse to call it "EA FC") squad role designations: crucial, important, rotation, sporadic, and prospect. Yes, I am well aware that real soccer isn't like FIFA. But these designations are easy and helpful ways to think about what role players fill.

Finally, these predictions will include the MLS regular season only. Nashville will also play in the Concacaf Champions Cup and Leagues Cup, as well as hopefully the MLS Cup Playoffs. I'm not including these matches in this prediction, simply because it's too unpredictable and the amount of games played can vary wildly.

Let's get this bread.

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Goalkeepers

Brian Schwake

Brian Schwake was tipped to be Nashville's new No. 1 goalkeeper early in the offseason, with Joe Willis's option declined before bringing the veteran back on a one-year deal to provide experienced depth.

There's been an open competition for the starting role in preseason, but a quick look at their lineups in friendly matches seems to indicate that Schwake has the edge. He's also by far the best of Nashville's three 'keepers with the ball at his feet, and with the goalkeeper's role in possession set to be emphasized even more heavily in 2026, it's a clear point in his favor.

Schwake should get the bulk of minutes in MLS play this season.

Joe Willis

Is this the year that Joe Willis stops being a fixture in goal for Nashville? The 37-year-old made major improvements with the ball at his feet, playing a wildly different role than at any point in his career. While some of the risks he took didn't always pay off, his growth in possession was impressive.

With Schwake a much better fit for Nashville's more aggressive buildout approach, I think Willis will end up as the No. 2 option behind Schwake.