Nashville SC are through to the semifinals of the Concacaf Champions Cup after Tuesday night's memorable 1-0 win against Club América. The Coyotes are the first MLS team to ever win a match at the legendary Mexico City stadium, making history as they advance through the tournament.
Nashville's continued ascendancy
The win is the latest in a string of ascending successes under head coach BJ Callaghan, who has rapidly re-shaped the club. After taking over the job in the summer of 2024, Callaghan led Nashville to their best-ever regular-season performance in 2025, and won the US Open Cup, the first piece of silverware in club history.
Ben Wright
The Boys In Gold have continued that upward trajectory in 2026. Not only are they on top of the MLS Eastern Conference in regular-season play, establishing themselves as one of the top teams in the league – they're making waves internationally.
After taking down Inter Miami and the legendary Lionel Messi in the Round of 16, their victory over Club América in the quarterfinals has them in rarified air.
A first-ever victory at the Azteca
Throughout its 65-year history, Estadio Azteca has been one of the most daunting venues in North American soccer, and one of the most storied grounds in the global game. Home of the Mexican national team, the Azteca is the only stadium in the world to have hosted two FIFA World Cup finals (1970 and 1986), home to monumental moments like Diego Maradona's "Hand of God" goal.
The Azteca has been the bane of the US Men's National Team, who have won just once in 13 attempts there, a 1-0 victory in a 2012 friendly. Even getting a draw in Mexico City has been a rarity for the USMNT, earning a point just three times.
MLS teams haven't fared any better. Prior to Tuesday's match, they had played seven matches at the Azteca, losing five and drawing just twice. Nashville's win over Club América makes them the first MLS side to ever win a match at the stadium, instantly putting them in the upper echelon of MLS clubs in continental competition.
MLS Results at Estadio Azteca
| Year | Home | Score | Away | MLS Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 🇲🇽 América | 1 – 1 | 🇨🇦 Montréal | Draw |
| 2016 | 🇲🇽 América | 3 – 1 | 🇺🇸 Seattle | Loss |
| 2018 | 🇲🇽 América | 1 – 1 | 🇨🇦 Toronto | Draw |
| 2021 | 🇲🇽 América | 3 – 1 | 🇺🇸 Portland | Loss |
| 2021 | 🇲🇽 América | 2 – 0 | 🇺🇸 Philadelphia | Loss |
| 2022 | 🇲🇽 Cruz Azul | 1 – 0 | 🇨🇦 Montréal | Loss |
| 2024 | 🇲🇽 América | 5 – 2 | 🇺🇸 New England | Loss |
| 2026 | 🇲🇽 América | 0 – 1 | 🇺🇸 Nashville | Win ⚡ |
"After the game as a group, we were out in the middle of the field, and we were able to soak that in and understand that it is a big step for this team," said Callaghan. "In every sense of the word, it is a team. They're here to compete, but they're here to just play for each other. That was on display tonight."
A rare foray into the Champions Cup semifinals
With the win, Nashville are through to the Concacaf Champions Cup semifinals. They're just the 14th MLS club to earn a spot in the final four, and will face the winner of Wednesday night's match between Monterrey-based Tigres and the Seattle Sounders.
Nashville have another chance to make history. Only seven MLS clubs have made it to the final, and only one has ever won the tournament. The Seattle Sounders' win in 2022 has them widely regarded as one of the greatest MLS clubs of all time, defeating Tigres 5-2 on aggregate in the final.
MLS Clubs in CCC/CCL Semifinals (2008–Present)
| Year | Club | Semi Result | Final Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010-11 | 🇺🇸 Real Salt Lake | Won (3–2 agg. vs Saprissa) | Runner-up (lost to Monterrey) |
| 2011-12 | 🇨🇦 Toronto FC | Lost (3–7 agg. vs Santos Laguna) | Eliminated in semis |
| 2012-13 | 🇺🇸 LA Galaxy | Lost (1–3 agg. vs Monterrey) | Eliminated in semis |
| 2012-13 | 🇺🇸 Seattle Sounders | Lost (1–2 agg. vs Santos Laguna) | Eliminated in semis |
| 2014-15 | 🇨🇦 CF Montréal | Won (away goals vs Alajuelense) | Runner-up (lost to América) |
| 2016-17 | 🇺🇸 FC Dallas | Lost (3–4 agg. vs Pachuca) | Eliminated in semis |
| 2016-17 | 🇨🇦 Vancouver Whitecaps | Lost (1–4 agg. vs Tigres) | Eliminated in semis |
| 2018 | 🇺🇸 NY Red Bulls | Lost (1–3 agg. vs Chivas) | Eliminated in semis |
| 2018 | 🇨🇦 Toronto FC | Won (4–2 agg. vs América) | Runner-up (lost to Chivas) |
| 2020 | 🇺🇸 LAFC | Won (3–1 vs América) | Runner-up (lost to Tigres) |
| 2022 | 🇺🇸 Seattle Sounders | Won (4–2 agg. vs NYCFC) | 🏆 Champions (beat Pumas) |
| 2022 | 🇺🇸 NYCFC | Lost (2–4 agg. vs Seattle) | Eliminated in semis |
| 2023 | 🇺🇸 LAFC | Won (4–1 agg. vs Philadelphia) | Runner-up (lost to León) |
| 2023 | 🇺🇸 Philadelphia Union | Lost (1–4 agg. vs LAFC) | Eliminated in semis |
| 2024 | 🇺🇸 Columbus Crew | Won (pens vs Tigres) | Runner-up (lost to Pachuca) |
| 2024 | 🇺🇸 Inter Miami | Lost (vs Pachuca) | Eliminated in semis |
| 2025 | 🇨🇦 Vancouver Whitecaps | Won (vs Chivas) | Runner-up (lost to Cruz Azul) |
| 2026 | 🇺🇸 Nashville SC | TBD | TBD |
| 2026 | 🇺🇸 LAFC | TBD | TBD |
Nashville don't have an easy path to the cup. Seattle and Tigres both pose massive tests in the semifinal, as two of the more experienced clubs in the competition. On the other side of the bracket, LAFC look like an absolute juggernaut, and Toluca – ahead 4-2 going into the second leg of their quarterfinal – may be the best team on the continent.
Nashville aren't backing down from anyone. They've proven that they're capable of hanging with anyone, keeping six clean sheets in the competition already, and upsetting two of the favorites already.
Winning in Azteca is the cherry on top for a team that feel they're capable of winning every trophy in front of them this season.
"To be able to do it in a historical stadium, where so many big players have had big moments in the years," said Callaghan. "I think tonight you saw some big-time Nashville players have big-time moments."
