Nashville SC collected six points from their first three games after returning from the World Cup. The Boys in Gold had a week-long break before taking on DC United at Audi Field Saturday night.
Here's everything you need to know heading into the game.
Ben Wright
Match info
Teams: DC United vs Nashville SC
Referees: Ricardo Montero Araya (Ref), Nick Uranga (AR1), Ben Rigel (R2), JC Griggs (4th), Geoff Gamble (VAR), TJ Zablocki (AVAR)
Odds: DCU (+190), Draw (+240), NSH (+130)
Date: Saturday, August 1, 2026
Time: 6:30 pm CT, Audi Field, Washington, D.C., United States
TV: Apple TV
Apple TV Commentary: Chris Wittyngham & Lori Lindsey (English), Moises Linares (Spanish)
Radio: 104.5 The Zone
Radio Commentary (104.5): Will Boling
Forecast: 88º/72º. 83º at kickoff. Mostly cloudy. 8-9 mph winds. 20% chance of rain. 65% humidity.
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Head-to-head
Nashville wins: 6
Nashville goals: 24
Draws: 4
DC United wins: 2
DC United goals: 14
Last meeting: NSH 2-2 DCU (May 9, 2026 | MLS)
Availability report
SixOneFive Soccer Staff
DC United
The numbers
Goal leaders: Tai Baribo (10), Louis Munteanu (5)
Assist leaders: João Peglow, Silvan Hefti & Keisuke Kurokawa (3)
Last match: DCU 2–1 TOR (July 25, 2026 | MLS)
Data Power Rankings: 21st (13.60 score)
DC United snapshot
DC United have had major improvements under head coach René Weiler. While the Swiss has not turned DC into a powerhouse, he has certainly stabilized the team and gotten the best out of his players. The Black-and-Red have five wins already in MLS, matching their total for the entire 2025 season.
Under Weiler, DC have emphasized defensive structure and discipline. While that has limited their potential going forward, as they rely on transition play, it has made them a hard team to beat.
DC United currently occupy the last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. However, it won't be easy to maintain their position considering rejuvenated Orlando City and Columbus Crew are breathing down their necks.
The $4 million DC paid Philadelphia for Tai Baribo before the start of the season has proven to be well worth it. The striker has netted 10 goals in MLS, only three behind golden boot leader Petar Musa. Baribo's finishing ability and positioning have served him well for the second season in a row.
Baribo's partner in attack is Louis Munteanu, who's another huge summer outlay, costing DC up to $10 million. The 24-year-old is starting to come to his own in MLS, adding six goal contributions thus far. He is also important to how DC play without the ball and leads the defense from the top. The Romanian opened the scoring the last time these two teams faced each other.
Predicted XI
Nashville SC
The numbers
Goal leaders: Sam Surridge (10), Hany Mukhtar (6)
Assist leaders: Cristian Espinoza (8), Hany Mukhtar & Andy Nájar (5)
Last match: ORL 1–0 NSH (July 25, 2026 | MLS)
Data Power Rankings: 2nd (33.51 score)
Nashville SC snapshot
Nashville SC have collected six out of nine available points, which isn't a bad outcome at all. However, the performances have been a cause for concern for many fans.
Nashville have struggled to create much in attack, scoring only once from open play and twice in total in the three games since returning from the World Cup break.
The biggest issue for the Boys in Gold has been injuries to key players. Cristian Espinoza, Warren Madrigal and Reed Baker-Whiting have yet to play since the return. In addition, Patrick Yazbek remains sidelined due to his long-term injury.
Baker-Whiting and Madrigal could return this week, with head coach BJ Callaghan confirming they are back in full-team training. Additionally, new signing Elias Saad has his visa and is available for selection.
BJ Callaghan confirms that Reed Baler-Whiting and Warren Madrigal are available.
— Ben Wright (@benwright) July 31, 2026
Elias Saad has his visa and is ready to play.
Cristian Espinoza is not quite available, but he’s not far away. pic.twitter.com/s6vSzYNFgX
The other big issue for Nashville is getting their two available DPs, Hany Mukhtar and Sam Surridge, involved in the action. Both forwards have looked isolated at times and needed to drop deeper into the pitch to receive the ball. Surridge specifically has been limited to eight touches in the opponents' box in all three games.
Defensively, the Boys in Gold remain an elite side, allowing only one goal in three matches. All-Star goalkeeper Brian Schwake has been one of the best in MLS. In addition, BJ Callaghan's style depends on the entire team being part of the defensive unit, which has made Nashville very hard to score against.
Mukhtar, Surridge, Schwake and Andy Nájar all participated in the MLS All-Star match on Wednesday. However, that is not expected to affect their availability for the match Saturday night.
Predicted XI
Staff predictions
Ben Wright
Score: DC 0–1 NSH
Scorers: Sam Surridge
MOTM: Sam Surridge
Bold prediction: Elias Saad is on the bench and makes his Nashville debut (fourth time is a charm).
Colby Hitchcock
Score: DCU 0–1 NSH
Scorers: Hany Mukhtar
MOTM: Hany Mukhtar
Bold prediction: Nashville get the job done and bounce back.
Jeff Remlinger
Score: DCU 0–2 NSH
Scorers: Sam Surridge, Andy Nájar
MOTM: Andy Nájar
Bold prediction: Two of NSC’s strengths under BJ have been their ability to bounce back and better performances the 2nd time they've seen an opponent. NSC wins but only wins the xG battle by less than .5.
Ronan Briscoe
Score: DCU 0–1 NSH
Scorers: Bryan Acosta
MOTM: Brian Schwake
Bold prediction: Nashville has only lost to DC United twice, both of those games coming in 2024. The Coyotes won two of three matchups last year, and they start off 2026’s entanglements as they did in 2025 with a 1-0 win.
Valair Shabilla
Score: DCU 0–2 NSH
Scorers: Sam Surridge, Hany Mukhtar
MOTM: Hany Mukhtar
Bold prediction: DC will have the better xG.
