The FIFA international break is over, and the 2026 MLS season picks up in full force this weekend. All 30 teams will be in action on Saturday, with Nashville SC traveling to take on a Chicago Fire side they've dominated in recent meetings.
Match info
Teams: Chicago Fire FC vs Nashville SC
Referees: Marcos DeOliveira II (Ref), Stefan Tanaka-Freundt (AR1), Kevin Lock (AR2), Jon Freemon (4th), Carol Anne Chenard (VAR), Melissa Beck (AVAR)
Odds: CHI (+130), Draw (+210), NSH (+205)
Date: Saturday, April 3, 2026
Time: 7:30 pm CT, Soldier Field, Chicago, IL, United States
TV: Apple TV+
Apple TV Commentary: Neil Sika & Kyndra de St. Aubin (English), Nacho Garcia (Spanish)
Radio: 104.5 The Zone
Radio Commentary (104.5): Will Boling
Forecast: 62º/41º. 46º at kickoff. Cloudy. 7-15 mph winds, gusts up to 31 mph. 0% chance of rain. 73% humidity.
Head-to-head
Nashville wins: 6
Nashville goals: 22
Draws: 2
Chicago wins: 1
Chicago goals: 5
Last meeting: CHI 0-2 NSH (June 14, 2025 | MLS)
Chicago Fire
The numbers
Goal leaders: Hugo Cuypers (4), Jonathan Bamba (2)
Assist leaders: Hugo Cuypers, Robin Lod, Andrew Gutman (1)
Last match: PHI 1-2 CHI (MLS regular season)
Data Power Rankings: 13th (14.46 score)
Chicago snapshot
The Fire have had an inconsistent start to the season. Through five matches, they haven't been able to string together consecutive wins yet. They've had mixed results at Soldier Field — albeit in a small sample size — with a 3-0 win over CF Montréal in their home opener and a 2-1 loss to DC United.
"While they haven't truly been outplayed in any of their games this season, they've also struggled to control games, and the offense hasn't been clicking the same way it was for so much of 2025," Men In Red 97's Tim Hotze said in his Zoomed N interview. "Overall, the Fire should feel disappointed with two losses in games that were winnable, but also, like they have work to do if they're going to take a step forward, not a step back."
SixOneFive Soccer Staff
This is a Fire team that saw plenty of turnover this winter. Homegrown No. 10 Brian Gutiérrez was transferred to Chivas for a reported $5 million fee (where he's teammates with former Nashville winger Jonathan Pérez). Chicago replaced him with former Minnesota standout Robin Lod, who signed as a free agent after several years as one of the more underrated playmakers in MLS. He's a different type of creator, though, and the attack has taken longer to adapt than maybe initially expected.
In the back, defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi has been a star. The U22 Initiative signing is a borderline celebrity in his native South Africa, bringing an increase of 180,000 followers to the Fire social accounts in the first 48 hours after his signing.
Paul Tenorio
He's impressed on the field as well, forming a strong partnership with captain and MLS veteran Jack Elliott. Chicago have allowed just five goals this season, the third-best defensive record in the Eastern Conference. Playing at home, against a Nashville side who have been elite offensively, they'll place even more emphasis on maintaining some defensive solidity.
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 5-0 ORL (March 21, 2026 | MLS)
Data Power Rankings: 2nd (28.09 score)
Nashville SC snapshot
Nashville have had Chicago's number historically. They've won six of their nine meetings, outscoring the Fire 22-5. They've played better against the Fire than any team in the Eastern Conference, with their +1.89 goal differential per game significantly higher than their next-closest opponent (CF Montréal — +0.91). The 'Yotes have won the last four meetings by a combined 13-2 scoreline, with their last loss coming in July of 2023.
Ben Wright
Last season's 7-2 win sparked Nashville's best form of the season, with Sam Surridge making international news with his four-goal performance.
That's almost certainly not replicable — it wasn't last season, either, as Nashville followed it with a professional 2-0 win in the reverse fixture. They'll be aiming for a similar result, maintaining their unbeaten start to the season while staying fresh and in-form ahead of Tuesday's Concacaf Champions Cup match against Club América.
How much head coach BJ Callaghan opts to rotate remains to be seen. Nashville haven't played in 14 days, and players need regular minutes to maintain their high level. They're also about to play five matches in 14 days, with four of those coming on the road. And while putting points on the MLS table is paramount, even at this early stage of the season, the opportunity in front of them in a Concacaf Champions Cup Quarterfinal against one of the most historic clubs in North America deserves their best effort.
Callaghan has kept a strong lineup in MLS play throughout their CCC run, and with just 11 matches on the calendar before the league takes nearly a two-month break for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, he can probably afford to push players a little more than usual.
Keep an eye out on the Starting XI announcement tomorrow evening to get a sense for how they're approaching this one.
Predicted XI
Staff predictions
Ben Wright
Score: CHI 1-2 NSH
Scorers: Sam Surridge, Hany Mukhtar
MOTM: Cristian Espinoza
Bold prediction: BJ Callaghan hasn't rotated much this season, and I don't expect that to start until after the first leg against América. It'll be a really tight match, but Nashville have more quality at the moment.
Chris Ivey
Score: CHI 1-1 NSH
Scorers: Sam Surridge
MOTM: Sam Surridge
Bold prediction: Callaghan rotates heavily, but Surridge subs on to rescue a point.
Jeff Remlinger
Score: CHI 0-2 NSH
Scorers: Sam Surridge, Hany Mukhtar
MOTM: Hany Mukhtar
Bold prediction: This is only Nashville's third match this season with full rest. They won the previous two comfortably, and that continues in Chicago.
Ronan Briscoe
Score: CHI 1-1 NSH
Scorers: Sam Surridge
MOTM: Eddi Tagseth
Bold prediction: It's a bit testy on the road following the international break, with neither team in top form. Both teams leave with something.
Valair Shabilla
Score: CHI 1-1 NSH
Scorers: Hany Mukhtar
MOTM: Hany Mukhtar
Bold prediction: To everyone's surprise, it'll be a fairly boring match.
