On Saturday, Nashville SC will kick off their 2026 MLS season. After a midweek win in Concacaf Champions Cup, they're back home to take on the New England Revolution in their home opener for the second-consecutive season.
Here at SixOneFive Soccer, you'll find all the information you need ahead of tomorrow's match.
Match info
Teams: Nashville SC vs New England Revolution
Referees: Tori Penso (Ref), Kathryn Nesbitt (AR1), Meghan Mullen (AR2), Jon Freemon (4th), Ramy Touchan (VAR), Cameron Blanchard (AVAR)
Odds: NSH (-160), Draw (+310), NE (+350)
Date: Saturday, February 21, 2026
Time: 7:30 pm CT, Geodis Park, Nashville, TN, United States
TV: MLS Season Pass – Apple TV (Free)
Apple TV Commentary: Tony Husband & Ross Smith (English), Francisco X. Rivera (Spanish)
Radio: 104.5 The Zone
Radio Commentary (104.5): Will Boling
Forecast: 55º/37º. 44º at kickoff. Partly cloudy. 4-10 mph winds. 40% chance of rain. 56% humidity.
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Head-to-head
Nashville wins: 3
Nashville goals: 11
Draws: 5
New England wins: 3
New England goals: 10
Last meeting: NE 2-3 NSH (June 25, 2025 | MLS)
Availability report
Published on Friday at approximately 4 pm CT
New England Revolution
The numbers
2025 goal leaders: Carles Gil (10), Leo Campana (7)
2025 assist leaders: Carles Gil (9), Ilay Feingold (3)
Last match: N/A
New England snapshot
The Revs are heading into 2026 with a new man in charge. After Caleb Porter was fired towards the end of last season, Marko Mitrović has been tasked with getting this side back into the playoffs. The Serbian midfielder transitioned to coaching after ending his playing career, and has spent time with the Serbian youth national teams and the Chicago Fire. Since 2022, he's worked as a head coach in the United States, heading up the U19, U20, and U23 teams.
It makes sense, then, that the Revs have targeted US youth internationals this winter. Midfielder Brooklyn Raines was brought in for a cash transfer worth up to $2 million from the Houston Dynamo, while DC United academy product Griffin Yow returns to MLS after four seasons in Belgium.
SixOneFive Soccer Staff
"I will use one word: it’s attack," Mitrović said in his introductory press conference. "We will attack with the ball, and we will attack the ball when we don’t have the ball, and we will be very aggressive with that."
Yes, every new head coaching hire makes prognostications about the attractive, bold style of soccer their team will play. But the promises have held up for virtually every other head coach in MLS who has come out of the Gregg Berhalter USMNT coaching tree.
New England have the players to be proactive, too. Carles Gil is one of the most gifted playmakers MLS has ever seen, and the captain signed a new long-term contract this winter. With a midfield of Raines and either Matt Polster or Alhassan Yussuf behind him, he'll have freedom and structure to carry the attacking load. Their backline should be one of the better defenses in MLS, too. Their center back pairing is strong, and USMNT goalkeeper Matt Turner is back after his spell in England. He looked like like an elite 'keeper again last season.
The real question comes up front. Striker Leo Campana was acquired for a club-record $3.25 million in GAM last season, but struggled with injuries and only scored seven goals. He's been on fire in preseason, scoring five times in five goals. But if he struggles again this season, do the Revs have the firepower to contend in a stacked Eastern Conference?
Predicted XI
Nashville SC
The numbers
Goal leaders: Sam Surridge (25), Hany Mukhtar (17)
Assist leaders: Hany Mukhtar (12), Andy Nájar (10)
Last match: NSH 2-1 MIA (MLS Cup Playoffs)
Nashville SC snapshot
Nashville rotated fairly heavily for their Concacaf Champions Cup opener, with only one or two likely first-choice starters making the XI. That doesn't include goalkeeper Brian Schwake, who was given the start on Tuesday and looks set to keep that in MLS. Here's what head coach BJ Callaghan said about the goalkeeper battle earlier this week, ahead of the Ottawa match:
"We have made our decision on on who we'll play tomorrow night. I think that we'll be able to kind of go into the season with a with a number one, consistent goalkeeper, and then it's obviously up for competition at the time. But I don't view it as something that we're going to flip flop every single game."
Reading between the lines, this looks like Schwake's job to lose.
SixOneFive Soccer Staff
With Cristian Espinoza signed as Nashville's third Designated Player, this should be one of the better attacking sides in MLS. Their backline looks solid on paper as well, with Maxwell Woledzi highly rated as the heir apparent for departed captain Walker Zimmerman, and Reed Baker-Whiting added as quality defensive depth.
Midfield is where the real questions lie. Eddi Tagseth and Patrick Yazbek provide a safe floor, and the duo lend themselves well to games in which Nashville want to lean into the press. But against teams who prefer to sit deep and absorb pressure, there are questions about their ability to progress the ball effectively and unlock a settled defense. If Nashville add a player here – or if Matt Corcoran is able to take over as a deep-lying playmaker – it should elevate them into a truly great side.
Predicted XI
Staff predictions
Ben Wright
Score: NSH 2–0 NE
Scorers: Sam Surridge, Hany Mukhtar
MOTM: Hany Mukhtar
Bold prediction: Nashville control less than 45% possession, but more than double New England's shot total.
Chris Ivey
Score: NSH 3–0 NE
Scorers: Sam Surridge, Hany Mukhtar, Cristian Espinoza
MOTM: Cristian Espinoza
Bold prediction: This will be the first time in Nashville SC history that all three DPs score in the same match.
Jeff Remlinger
Score: NSH 3–1 NE
Scorers: Sam Surridge (x2), Ahmed Qasem
MOTM: Cristian Espinoza
Bold prediction: Cristian Espinoza and Andy Nájar combine for all three assists
Valair Shabilla
Score: NSH 2–1 NE
Scorers: Sam Surridge, Cristian Espinoza
MOTM: Cristian Espinoza
Bold prediction: Nashville concede due to a defensive or goalkeeper mistake
Fan forecast
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