Nashville SC head to Charlotte for their first of three consecutive matches on the road.
The Charlotte match falls in the middle of two crucial CONCACAF Champions Cup matches for Nashville against Club América – could the Boys In Gold rotate ahead of Tuesday's win-or-go-home match in Mexico City?
Match info
Teams: Charlotte FC vs Nashville SC
Referees: Rubiel Vazquez (Ref), Jose Da Silva (AR1), Meghan Mullen (AR2), Sergii Demianchuk (4th), Younes Marrakchi (VAR), Jonathan Johnson (AVAR)
Odds: CLT (+115), Draw (+220), NSH (+240)
Date: Saturday, April 10, 2026
Time: 6:30 pm CT, Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina, United States
TV: Apple TV
Apple TV Commentary: Steve Cangialosi & Danny Higginbotham (English), Bruno Vain & Andres Agulla (Spanish)
Radio: 104.5 The Zone
Radio Commentary (104.5): Lucas Panzica
Forecast: 65º/48º. 53º at kickoff. Partly cloudy. 8-12 mph winds, gusts up to 20 mph. 10% chance of rain. 62% humidity.
Head-to-head
Nashville wins: 3
Nashville goals: 9
Draws: 1
Charlotte wins: 3
Charlotte goals: 11
Last meeting: NSH 2-1 CLT (May 10, 2025 | MLS)
Southern Championship Belt
SixOneFive Soccer Staff
Charlotte FC
The numbers
Goal leaders: Pep Biel (4), Archie Goodwin, Idan Toklomati, Wilfried Zaha (2)
Assist leaders: Ashley Westwood (3), Pep Biel, Wilfried Zaha, David Schnegg, Luca De La Torre, Harry Toffolo, Liel Abada (2)
Last match: CLT 2-1 PHI (MLS regular season)
Data Power Rankings: 11th (15.82 score)
Charlotte snapshot
After a disappointing start to 2026 with a draw against St. Louis and a loss to the LA Galaxy, Charlotte FC have turned things around. The Crown are unbeaten in their last four, winning three and drawing once, most recently beating the Philadelphia Union 2-1.
Charlotte were the third-best home team in MLS last season, something that has carried on to 2026. Their unbeaten run has exclusively come at home, where they seem the most comfortable.
Head coach Dean Smith is in his third season with the club after delivering back-to-back playoff appearances. Smith continues to focus on defensive structure and staying compact, allowing very little space for the opponent in the central areas.
Smith relies on experienced players like USMNT center-back Tim Ream and veteran center-midfielder Ashley Westwood to maintain Charlotte's shape off the ball.
On the ball, Pep Biel continues to play at an MVP-level and already has six goal contributions on the season. Biel is the creative hub for the Crown, often linking midfield play to the attackers. At the same time, he is a goal threat himself and will often drive in and around the box looking for a shooting opportunity.
Aiding Biel in the attack is usually long-time Premier League star Wilfried Zaha. However, the Ivory Coast international will miss the match due to yellow card accumulation, adding to a frustrating tenure in MLS so far.
Liel Abada is likely to slot in for Zaha, opposite Kerwin Vargas on the flanks. 21-year-old Idan Toklomati, who continues to develop well, will likely lead Charlotte's attack as the striker. Toklomati led the Crown in goals last season with 13 in all competitions, and has found the back of the net twice this season.
Charlotte also signed winger Rodolfo Aloko to a U22 Initiative contract on Friday. The 19-year-old has had a stellar campaign in MLS NEXT Pro for Crown Legacy FC, logging six goals and two assists in four matches. He's the latest in a string of success stories for Charlotte from their reserve team, and could play a role tomorrow night.
Predicted XI
If you're still reading this, you love Nashville soccer. So do we!
Sign up today for the best Nashville soccer coverage on the market.
Nashville SC
The numbers
Goal leaders: Sam Surridge (7), Cristian Espinoza, Warren Madrigal, Hany Mukhtar (2)
Assist leaders: Cristian Espinoza (3), Warren Madrigal, Andy Nájar, Patrick Yazbek (2)
Last match: NSH 0-0 CA (April 7, 2026 | CCC)
Data Power Rankings: 4th (23.67 score)
Nashville SC snapshot
Nashville SC might have "bigger fish to fry" in the CONCACAF Champions Cup, but they can't afford to keep dropping points on the road. Many predicted Nashville to be a Supporters' Shield contender, and their results aren't too far off from that path. That said, the performances away from home in MLS haven't been stellar.
Head coach BJ Callaghan has rotated fairly heavily at times to ensure the team is ready for their continental matches. It's hard to blame Callaghan, considering that two games a week have become the norm for Nashville in 2026.
Before the Miami away match in the last round of the Champions Cup, Callaghan rotated nine players in Columbus. A similar level of rotation is expected Saturday night.
Players like Ahmed Qasem, Jack Maher, Josh Bauer, and other rotational pieces are likely to get the nod from the start. In addition, players who aren't always in the Nashville SC traveling squad might find themselves on the bench. The likes of Jordan Knight, Charles-Émile Brunet, and Thomas Williams may get a rare foray into the MLS matchday squad.
The biggest task for Nashville will be to play the "Nashville way" despite who's on the pitch. This is easier said than done, with wholesale rotation making cohesiveness a challenge. Many of these players have not seen much game time together, which adds another obstacle for Nashville.
Similar to the game in Columbus, Callaghan is likely to bring on his starters at some point during the match. While his preference might be to rest them completely, Nashville might need them to get a result, and they'll also want to maintain a rhythm early in the season.
While some of the three Designated Players – Hany Mukhtar, Sam Surridge, and Cristian Espinoza – might start the match or come off the bench in the second half, it's unlikely that any of them will play the entire 90 minutes.
Predicted XI
Staff predictions
Ben Wright
Score: CLT 1-1 NSH
Scorers: Sam Surridge
MOTM: Mukhtar
Bold prediction: Nashville sub on their big guns for the final 15 minutes and steal a draw
Chris Ivey
Score: CLT 3-0 NSH
Scorers:
MOTM:
Bold prediction: A red card for a second yellow on Maher is the capper of a flat performance from a rotated squad, looking ahead toward a trip to the Azteca
Valair Shabilla
Score: CLT 0-0 NSH
Scorers:
MOTM:
Bold prediction: Brian Schwake wins Man of the Match
