Preview: Inter Miami CF vs Nashville SC (Concacaf Champions Cup)

Nashville SC. Inter Miami. Again.

The two sides are at it again, set to face off for the 21st time in the last seven seasons, and the 14th time since 2023. Tonight is the second leg of the Concacaf Champions Cup Round of 16.

After a 0-0 draw in the first leg, played last week at Geodis Park, Nashville could have the advantage of away goals. Any tie (besides 0-0) would see Nashville advance.

We're hosting a watch party with our friends at 440 Sports! Join us at 6 pm CT at Yazoo Brewing in Madison, TN! It's a great chance to hang out with fellow Nashville fans, meet some other subscribers, get deals on drinks, and even get the chance to win a new Nashville SC 2026 kit!

Here's what you need to know heading into the game.

Match info

Teams: Inter Miami vs Nashville SC
Odds: MIA (-160), Draw (+320), NSH (+360)
Date: Wednesday, March 18, 2026
Time: 6:00 pm CT, Inter Miami Stadium, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, United States
TV: FS2, TUDN , ConcacafGO, OneSoccer
Forecast: 71º/57º. 68º at kickoff. Rainy. 10-21 mph winds. 85% chance of rain. 92% humidity.

Head-to-head

Inter Miami

The numbers

Miami snapshot

Miami were second-best in the first leg by a significant margin, but held on (and benefited from some poor Nashville SC finishing) to leave with a 0-0 draw. While they were clearly frustrated by the result, they'll be confident going into tonight's match — they've lost just once at home to Nashville in 10 matches, and that loss came all the way back in 2021.

Miami are clearly prioritizing this. Head coach Javier Mascherano fully rotated his squad in their 0-0 draw at Charlotte FC this weekend, handing debuts to three players and leaving Lionel Messi out of the squad completely. Miami's stated goal in 2026 has been to win Concacaf Champions Cup, and as such they're placing heavy emphasis on a result in tonight's match.

Defender Maxi Falcón is out after his injury in the first leg, with Gonzalo Luján likely to partner Micael at the back. Sergio Reguilón made his Miami debut last weekend after an injury setback in preseason, and the former Tottenham defender will be an upgrade, although it remains to see how effectively he can replace the retired Jordi Alba.

This is a loaded Miami team. They're clearly still working out the details on the pitch, but are stocked with talent at every position and the best player of all time pulling the strings. It just takes one result for them to get their 2026 campaign on track, and they'll be hoping that happens tonight.

Predicted XI

Nashville SC

The numbers

Nashville SC snapshot

Like Mascherano did, BJ Callaghan rotated his side on the weekend, although not as completely. He made eight changes to his lineup, while also bringing on Hany Mukhtar and Sam Surridge into the match at halftime, as well as Cristian Espinoza, Patrick Yazbek, and Andy Nájar later in the match.

Recap: Hany Mukhtar late goal earns Nashville the win in Columbus

Mukhtar’s winner was the 25,000th goal in MLS history

SixOneFive SoccerBen Wright

The move paid off for Nashville when Mukhtar bagged a 94th-minute winner to keep Nashville at the top of the Eastern Conference and give them their best record through the first four matches ever.

Nashville should be pretty fresh for tonight's match, as Mukhtar and Surridge have a track record of being able to play multiple games a week without too much dip in performance. The larger question is if they'll be able to a) replicate their performance in the first leg, and b) improve on it.

Nashville created a ton of chances against Miami. They outshot the Herons 14 to eight, put four shots on goal to Miami's one, and amassed 1.19 expected goals to Miami's 0.32. The xG doesn't tell the full story, either, with Surridge, Mukhtar, and Warren Madrigal missing several chances they'd normally bury.

It's hard not to think back to the 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup, where Nashville blew a lead in the first leg to draw 2-2 before losing 3-1 in the second leg. Or last season's MLS Cup Playoffs, in which Nashville won the home leg 2-1 and were clapped 4-0 in Ft. Lauderdale to bow out of the postseason.

Can Nashville put in a similar defensive showing in the second leg? Can they keep Lionel Messi and his supporting cast off the board for the second match in a row? Can they create real chances, and will Mukhtar, Surridge, and Espinoza actually finish them?

With away goals in play, scoring a goal will hugely benefit Nashville. Any scoring tie would see the 'Yotes advance, with 0-0 the only potential to push the match to extra time. A single goal for Nashville is essentially worth two for Miami.

Predicted XI

Staff predictions

Ben Wright

Score: MIA 1–1 NSH
Scorers: Jeisson Palacios
MOTM: Jeisson Palacios
Bold prediction: Nashville get battered throughout the match but hold Miami to a goal, before Jeisson Palacios puts them through in second-half stoppage time from a set piece.

Chris Ivey

Score: MIA 1–1 NSH
Scorers: Sam Surridge
MOTM: Brian Schwake
Bold prediction: Nashville survive some stoppage-time scares thanks to a Brian Schwake save on Luis Suárez to secure a second-round success story.

Jeff Remlinger

Score: MIA 2–1 NSH
Scorers: Sam Surridge
MOTM: Patrick Yazbek
Bold prediction: Nashville end up regretting the missed chances last week when Miami bag a late winner.

Ronan Briscoe

Score: MIA 1–1 NSH
Scorers: Cristian Espinoza
MOTM: Cristian Espinoza
Bold prediction: Nashville get their goal and successfully suffocate the game away, heading to the quarterfinals.

Valair Shabilla

Score: MIA 2–2 NSH
Scorers: Hany Mukhtar, Woobens Pacius
MOTM: Hany Mukhtar
Bold prediction: Miami take the lead twice but Nashville score late to earn a draw.

Pre-match media