NASHVILLE, TN – When Nashville SC take on Toronto FC on Saturday, they'll do so shorthanded.
Major League Soccer has opted to play a full round of matches during the September and October FIFA international window. Typically, many of the top leagues around the world pause their schedule for the entirety of the break, ensuring that no team will have to play matches without key players. As MLS already took a nearly two-month pause for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, all 30 teams in the league will play on Saturday and Sunday while international teams are playing matches.
Nashville SC will be without four players: goalkeepers Brian Schwake (United States) and Xavier Valdez (Dominican Republic), midfielder Patrick Yazbek (Australia), and winger Ahmed Qasem (Iraq). Schwake and Valdez's call-ups are particularly impactful, depriving Nashville of two out of their three first-team goalkeepers.
Here's how Nashville can navigate this weekend without them.
Joe Willis
Behind Schwake, Nashville have one of the most experienced backup 'keepers in MLS. Joe Willis hasn't played a minute this season, but the 38-year-old is no stranger to playing for Nashville.
Willis was Nashville's unquestioned starter from 2020 through the 2025 season, piling up 205 appearances in all competitions. With 60 career clean sheets for Nashville, he can slot back into the starting lineup without a hiccup.
Willis certainly isn't as composed in possession as Schwake, but made real improvements with the ball at his feet last season. It'll take a slight adjustment from Nashville in build-up, but no one at the club will have any reservations about putting Willis in goal against Toronto.
Will Mackay
Willis is the easy option to start the match. Finding a backup for Willis on the bench will take some movement.
Will Mackay is the only other goalkeeper in the organization signed to a professional contract. The 18-year-old joined Huntsville City FC on a hybrid contract ahead of the 2026 season. After making 35 appearances for Real Monarchs in MLS NEXT Pro, he's been the unquestioned starter for Huntsville, keeping a club-record six clean sheets in 21 appearances this season.
Nashville academy goalkeepers Ammar Delić, Eamon Schorzman, Daniel Yagashkin, and Emmanuel Arias have all appeared in matchday squads for Huntsville. Arias is one of the most highly-rated prospects in Nashville's academy, and is a potential homegrown signing in the future. However, any of these players would require a professional contract to appear for Nashville.
This, plus the simple fact that Mackay has been excellent for Huntsville and is a prime candidate to move to a first-team contract in 2027, make it almost a guarantee that Nashville will call him up on a short-term loan deal on Saturday to serve as the backup 'keeper against Toronto.
What's next?
After Saturday's match against Toronto, Nashville won't play again until their October 10 road trip to Austin FC. The United States play their final match of the upcoming international window on Tuesday, October 6, taking on Canada in St. Paul, Minnesota.
As soon as the match is over, Schwake will be able to rejoin Nashville, where he'll slot right back into his starting role.
SixOneFive Soccer Staff
Schwake leads Nashville in appearances (35) and minutes (3,527) this season. He also set the club's single-season clean sheet record earlier this season, with 12 in MLS play and up to 17 clean sheets in all competitions. After being named to the MLS All-Star team earlier this summer, the 25-year-old is one of the frontrunners to win the MLS Goalkeeper of the Year award.
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