Nashville SC are off to an incredibly hot start in 2026. They've lost just once in their first 11 matches, and with 21 goals scored so far, their attack has earned plaudits.
Their defense, though, has been even better. They've allowed just four goals all season and have kept clean sheets in seven matches, including holding high-powered attacking teams like Inter Miami and Club América scoreless. With an average of 0.92 expected goals allowed per game, they're the third-best defensive side in MLS right now.
Ben Wright
We looked at the tweaks head coach BJ Callaghan made to Nashville's build-up shape earlier this year, but the changes they've made to their defensive shape deserve some notice, too.
4-3-3 defensive shape
We've talked about Nashville SC in a 4-2-2-2 shape since Callaghan took over in the summer of 2024, and while it's a good framework, it's also not quite fully accurate.
The 'Yotes use a 4-2-2-2 shape as their base, but that shape is usually just the starting point to morph into something entirely different in specific phases of the game. In periods of sustained possession sequences, they use a 3-2-5 shape. And ever since last season's playoff series against Inter Miami, they've used a 4-3-3 shape as their primary look defending against sustained possession.
