BJ Callaghan: "Our bandwagon has plenty of space"

Nashville SC are back in action tonight. After 54 days off and a World Cup on home soil, buzz around the sport is at an all-time high.

Nashville SC head coach BJ Callaghan is here for the new fans.

"Our bandwagon has plenty of space on it for people that want to come," he laughed.

The 2026 World Cup has been co-hosted across 16 cities in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The tournament has smashed viewership records for soccer in America, with 11.46 million viewers tuning in for Spain's semifinal win over France. The United States team drew even more numbers, with more than 41 million viewers watching the USMNT's 4-1 loss to Belgium in the Round of 16, the most-watched soccer telecast in U.S. history.

Tonight is an unmissable opportunity. Their match against Atlanta United will be broadcast in primetime on FOX, falling between the World Cup semifinals and the final on Sunday. As one of the marquee matches of MLS's return to play, all attention will be on Music City.

On the field, Nashville aren't doing anything different. They believe that the roster they've built and the style they is already ready-made to captivate new fans.

"I think we've been very intentional as a club to connect with it," Callaghan said when asked about the match. "We are intentional with building the roster and trying to play a style that identifies and connects with the people of Nashville and the greater Nashville area. That's the same expectation we have every game, and that's what we're going to try to do Friday night: play our way, and put a good performance out there and a good product out there like we always do.

"Our commitment to the city and commitment to the fans is that they're going to get 100% of us every single game. We want to play in an attacking and intense style, and we want to be as authentic as possible. So if you're a new fan, you'll see an authentic brand that we've been doing for a long time. If you're coming back after 50-plus days off, the expectation is you see the same thing."

Over the first portion of the season, Nashville have certainly been worth watching. The lead all of MLS with 33 points from 14 regular-season games, losing just once in their opening stretch. Their 23 goals at Geodis Park are tied with San Diego FC for the most of any team at home, while their +20 goal differential is the second-best in MLS.

They haven't just been good in MLS, though. Nashville made a historic run to the Concacaf Champions Cup semifinals, the 14th MLS side in history to make it that far in North America's biggest tournament. Club legend Hany Mukhtar scored a memorable game-winning goal against Club América to make Nashville the first MLS team to ever win in Mexico City's historic Azteca stadium.

Historic! Nashville SC’s win at Estadio Azteca

Nashville are the first MLS team to ever win a match at the legendary Mexico City stadium

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Nashville are currently in their best-ever stretch as a club, and they're ready for more: more silverware, and more fans.

"[New fans] are more than welcome," said Callaghan. "We're welcoming, but there's an expectation, because the fans that we currently have here make Geodis Park an unbelievable place to play, a place that we perform very well at.

"I just ask, if you come, that your job is to enhance and elevate that experience."

Nashville SC and Major League Soccer are back in action, and we're here to cover it all in-depth. Sign up for a new annual membership and save 30% on your first year!

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