After Saturday's disappointing 2-1 loss to FC Cincinnati, Nashville SC are back at Geodis Park for one of the biggest matches in the history of the club.
The Boys In Gold will host the Philadelphia Union in the US Open Cup semifinals, with the winner set to play in the final. Neither side have ever won the tournament. Nashville have never won a trophy. It's an incredible chance for the club to lift silverware, which would make them the first professional sports team in Tennessee to win a trophy.
SixOneFive Soccer Staff
Match info
Teams: Nashville SC vs Philadelphia Union
Referees: Marcos DeOliveira II (Ref), Corey Parker (AR1), Matthew Nelson (AR2), Ricardo Montero Araya (4th), Kevin Stott (VAR), Mark Allatin (AVAR)
Odds: NSH (+120), Draw (+230), PHI (+190)
Date: Tuesday, September 16, 2025
Time: 7:00 pm CT, Geodis Park, Nashville, TN, United States
TV: CBS Sports | Paramount+
Forecast: 85º/65º. 78º at kickoff. Partly cloudy. 3-4 mph winds. 0% chance of rain. 58% humidity.
Head-to-head
Nashville wins: 3
Nashville goals: 8
Draws: 3
Philadelphia wins: 4
Philadelphia goals: 12
Last meeting: NSH 1–0 PHI (July 5, 2025 | MLS)
Zoomed N
SixOneFive Soccer Staff
Philadelphia Union
The numbers
Goal leaders: Tai Baribo (16), Bruno Damiani (5)
Assist leaders: Kai Wagner (10), Quinn Sullivan (9)
Last match: VAN 7–0 PHI (MLS)
Philadelphia Union snapshot
The Union head into Nashville on top of the Supporters' Shield race, but stinging after an embarrassing loss in Vancouver. The Union flew across the country and were smacked 7-0. Thomas Müller logged his first hat-trick in MLS. Head coach Bradley Carnell made three changes before halftime, hauling off veteran midfielder Alejandro Bedoya after he conceded a penalty, prompting a public apology on social media.
I’ll be the first to apologize for my personal performance tonight and accept responsibility for the result tonight. Simply not good enough or anywhere near our standards and expectations.
— Alejandro Bedoya (@AleBedoya17) September 14, 2025
One thing is for sure. One result/game will NOT define us this season.
On to the next one!
Carnell partially rotated in Vancouver, but key players like Jakob Glesnes, Jovan Lukić, Quinn Sullivan and Frankie Westfield all started, will all but Lukić playing the full 90 minutes. And surprisingly, even though down 4-0 before halftime, Carnell brought on Tai Baribo, Kai Wagner and Danley Jean Jacques for the second half, opting not to rest them before Tuesday's match.
It was a strange night all around. Losing by the biggest margin in club history days before an Open Cup semifinal isn't exactly confidence inspiring. Whether they arrive in Nashville demoralized or looking for a bounce back remains to be seen.
Bradley Carnell today on facing Nashville for a third time this season in the Open Cup semifinal tomorrow night:#DOOP
— Jillian All-$$ (@Silly__Jilly) September 15, 2025
📹: Philadelphia Union pic.twitter.com/5Sddhm3s8t
"We've watched Nashville throughout the whole season progress, get stronger and be very structured in what they do," Carnell said. "A lot of that structure we appreciate; we play similarly. There's a lot to get to see, a lot to training this way every single day. It's a team that has a ton of quality, some exceptional playmakers with Surridge and Mukhtar, and then there's a lot of supporting-style players as well. We're going to have to contain them. This is a one-off game. We're going to have to be up for the challenge."
Structurally, the two sides are incredibly similar. Both setting up in a 4-2-2-2, they both try to press and disrupt the opponent without the ball. The Union lean much more into the pressing side, while Nashville tend to try and control the ball in more sustained stretches.
In their prior two meetings, the Union were exposed a bit in behind, with Nashville playing rather direct and looking to exploit their backline. Last Saturday showed a tendency to struggle with cut-back crosses. How they respond on Tuesday and attempt to correct these issues will be crucial.
Predicted XI
Nashville SC
The numbers
Goal leaders: Sam Surridge (21), Hany Mukhtar (14)
Assist leaders: Hany Mukhtar (11), Andy Nájar (10)
Last match: CIN 2-1 NSH (MLS)
Nashville SC snapshot
With five losses from their last six matches, Nashville SC are limping into this semifinal. The 1-0 loss to Atlanta United in their last match at Geodis was demoralizing. Conceding a 98th-minute winner to Cincinnati was a gut punch.
All will be forgotten if Nashville can win tonight.
Ben Wright
BJ Callaghan has come into the club and adapted a top-down vision, with player development at the first team, reserve team and academy levels at the center. None of that matters without trophies, though.
"We're in the business of winning," he said on Monday. Throughout the year he's reiterated that Nashville won't shy away from the demand to win trophies, and lifting one of the most historic trophies in global football would certainly be a statement way to lift the first piece of silverware in club history.
To do that, they have to get through an incredibly difficult Philadelphia side, and beating a team three times in one season is a rarity. It will take the best game Nashville have played in a month to advance to the final.
Alex Muyl and Jeisson Palacios will be back in the squad after missing last weekend with injury. Andy Nájar and Patrick Yazbek should slot back into the lineup, rested on Saturday after significant travel over the international break.
Jonny Pérez's involvement is up in the air. The 22-year-old winger pulled up with a quad injury in the opening 16 minutes on Saturday, and Callaghan said Nashville would get scans to determine his availability by Tuesday morning. If he's unable to play (it's very unlikely he'll be able to start), Muyl should slot back in opposite either Jacob Shaffelburg or Ahmed Qasem.
Could Callaghan role the dice and give Tyler Boyd his first start after over 400 days out with an ACL tear? The winger came on for the final 30 minutes against Cincinnati and set up Sam Surridge's goal, his first goal involvement since his return. With the Union keyed in on Surridge and Hany Mukhtar, Nashville could use an alternate goal threat.
Predicted XI
Staff predictions
Ben Wright
Score: NSH 2–1 PHI
Scorers: Tyler Boyd, Hany Mukhtar
MOTM: Hany Mukhtar
Bold prediction: Mukhtar grabs the winner in second-half stoppage time.
Chris Ivey
Score: NSH 2–1 PHI
Scorers: Sam Surridge, Walker Zimmerman
MOTM: Walker Zimmerman
Bold prediction: Zimmerman dunks on a dude for a late set piece winner to send Nashville to their second-ever cup final.
Jeff Remlinger
Score: NSH 2–3 PHI
Scorers: Sam Surridge, Jacob Shaffelburg
MOTM: Sam Surridge
Bold prediction: Philadelphia score a penalty kick in extra time.
Valair Shabilla
Score: NSH 1–1 PHI
Scorers: Hany Mukhtar
MOTM: Hany Mukhtar
Bold prediction: Nashville win in a penalty shootout.
Fan forecast
It's a US Open Cup semifinal matchday! Who wins tonight?
— SixOneFive Soccer (@615Soccer) September 16, 2025
Vote in our #FanForecast and reply with a #BoldPrediction.
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