MLS is back. After 54 days, Nashville SC will take the field again for the first time following the 2026 World Cup break.
With the eyes of the sports world still firmly fixed on soccer, Friday night is a golden opportunity for Nashville to capitalize on the World Cup buzz. The match will be televised nationally on Fox, giving the Boys In Gold a primetime slot to continue their Supporters' Shield-leading pace.
Match info
Teams: Nashville SC vs Atlanta United
Referees: Filip Dujić (Ref), Cameron Blanchard (AR1), Jeffrey Swartzel (AR2), Lorenzo Hernandez (4th), Younes Marrakchi (VAR), Tom Supple (AVAR)
Odds: NSH (-210), Draw (+340), ATL (+475)
Date: Friday, July 17, 2026
Time: 7:10 pm CT, Geodis Park, Nashville, TN, United States
TV: Apple TV, FOX, FOX Deportes
Apple TV Commentary: Tony Husband, Ross Smith, and Andrew Wiebe (English), Bruno Vain, Andres Aguila, and Moises Linares (Spanish)
FOX Commentary: Steve Cangialosi, Danny Higginbotham, Katie Witham
FOX Deportes Commentary: Alejandro Luna, Martin Zuniga
Radio: 104.5 The Zone
Radio Commentary (104.5): Will Boling
Forecast: 87º/73º. 82º at kickoff. Cloudy. 2-6 mph winds. 65% chance of rain. 75% humidity.
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Head-to-head
Nashville wins: 6
Nashville goals: 24
Draws: 5
Atlanta wins: 4
Atlanta goals: 20
Last meeting: ATL 0-2 NSH (April 18, 2026 | MLS)
Availability report
SixOneFive Soccer Staff
Atlanta United
The numbers
Goal leaders: Alexey Miranchuk (5), Emmanuel Latte Lath, Ajani Fortune, Saba Lobjanidze (2)
Assist leaders: Cooper Sanchez (4), Elias Báez, Miguel Almirón (3)
Last match: CLB 2-0 ATL (May 24, 2026)
Data Power Rankings: 26th (6.09 score)
Atlanta United snapshot
Atlanta United have been going through it in recent years. They've struggled to make the playoffs consistently, despite being among the highest-spending clubs in MLS.
I'll turn it over to my buddy Sam Jones for a more dialed-in look at this team:
If we’re keeping it real, this team has gotten worse since the break. It’s virtually the same roster, just without winger Saba Lobjanidze and Paraguayan midfielder Matias Galarza. There’s a chance they’ve improved at center back with two new signings, but both signings are over 30, and the front office has no recent track record of success.
On top of that, center back didn’t even feel like a major need. This team scored 14 goals in 14 games to start the year. They have so few true wingers on the team that Emmanuel Latte Lath played at right wing in last week’s friendly versus Sporting KC. Yeah, center back was *a* need. But there are so. many. needs. Adding two veteran defenders very likely won’t move the needle much. They desperately need a No. 6 and a winger or four. And an actual striker. And…look, the team needs some help.
SixOneFive Soccer Staff
Atlanta have made two signings so far this summer, bringing in defenders Júnior Alonso and Paulo Díaz, but neither will fix their primary issue: attack. Atlanta have scored just 14 goals, the fewest in MLS, and just 0.64 goals per game. Their attack is inept.
Atlanta badly need to start scoring. On the road against the best defensive team in MLS may not be the time they figure it out.
Predicted XI
Nashville SC
The numbers
Goal leaders: Sam Surridge (9), Hany Mukhtar (6)
Assist leaders: Cristian Espinoza (8), Hany Mukhtar & Andy Nájar (5)
Last match: NSH 2-1 NYC (May 23, 2026 | MLS)
Data Power Rankings: 3rd (33.31 score)
Nashville SC snapshot
Nashville badly needed the World Cup break. They got absolutely battered during their Concacaf Champions Cup run, with Sam Surridge, Eddi Tagseth, Patrick Yazbek, and Andy Nájar all missing matches with injury. The fact that the 'Yotes maintained a league-leading 2.36 points per game through it all is incredible, and puts them in great shape for the second portion of the season.
Nashville needed the break to get healthy, and in some ways they did. Surridge came off the bench in their final match before the break, a 2-1 win over NYCFC, and he's back to 100% before the return to play. He has nine goals in just over 800 league minutes, and should be firmly in the running for the Golden Boot if he can stay healthy.
Yazbek is out for another couple weeks, while Nájar and Tagseth are both close to being ready to play, and could see the field against Atlanta. This could leave Nashville's midfield a bit thin from the start, especially with Famara Camara still not officially announced and ready to play.
The 'Yotes made their first signing of the summer transfer window, bringing in Tunisia international winger Elias Saad on loan from FC Augsburg in Germany. After playing in the World Cup, match fitness and sharpness shouldn't be a major issue for him. He'll be available to play as soon as he gets his P1 visa.
Nashville are back, and this squad got better over the summer. They have the quality to go on a real push for silverware in the second half of the season. The sky is the limit.
Predicted XI
Staff predictions
Ben Wright
Score: NSH 4-1 ATL
Scorers: Hany Mukhtar, Sam Surridge (x2), Matt Corcoran
MOTM: Sam Surridge
Bold prediction: Elias Saad is on the bench and makes his Nashville debut.
Jeff Remlinger
Score: NSH 3-0 ATL
Scorers: Sam Surridge (x3)
MOTM: Sam Surridge
Bold prediction: We'll probably never know, but I bet this will be NSC's most-watched regular-season game ever.
Valair Shabilla
Score: NSH 3-1 ATL
Scorers: Hany Mukhtar, Ahmed Qasem, Sam Surridge
MOTM: Hany Mukhtar
Bold prediction: Nashville go 3-nil up within an hour.
