After a dominant 4-1 win over Inter Miami last weekend, the Supporters' Shield-leading Nashville SC head to New Jersey, taking on a New York Red Bulls side who they've never beaten – or scored on – away from home.
Can the 'Yotes continue riding their wave of form and get a first-ever win at Sports Illustrated Stadium?
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Match info
Teams: Nashville SC vs Inter Miami
Referees: Lorenzo Hernandez (Ref), Matthew Nelson (AR1), Brian Dunn (R2), Jeremy Scheer (4th), Kevin Terry, Jr. (VAR), John Krill (AVAR)
Odds: RBNY (+165), Draw (+265), NSH (+130)
Date: Wednesday, August 19, 2026
Time: 6:30 pm CT, Sports Illustrated Stadium, Harrison, NJ, United States
TV: Apple TV
Apple TV Commentary: Steve Cangialosi & Danny Higginbotham (English), Raul Guzman (Spanish)
Radio: 104.5 The Zone
Radio Commentary (104.5): Will Boling
Forecast: 87º/68º. 82º at kickoff. Sunny. 4 mph winds. 0% chance of rain. 74% humidity.
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Head-to-head
Nashville wins: 1
Nashville goals: 3
Draws: 5
New York wins: 2
New York goals: 7
Last meeting: NSH 2-1 RBNY (May 14, 2025 | MLS)
Availability report
SixOneFive Soccer Staff
Red Bull New York
The numbers
Goal leaders: Julian Hall (9), Jorge Ruvalcaba (7)
Assist leaders: Emil Forsberg & Cade Cowell (7), Julian Hall, Ronald Donkor & Adri Mehmeti (5)
Last match: ATL 2-1 RBNY (August 15, 2025 | MLS)
Data Power Rankings: 26th (6.92 score)
Red Bull New York snapshot
Red Bull New York find them in an interesting place. On one hand, they've developed a much more proactive, ball-oriented style than their typical all-out pressing system. Former US international Michael Bradley has taken chanrge of the first team after spending last season with their reserves in MLS NEXT Pro, and his tenure has unsurprisingly seen an even greater emphasis on young players than typical.
Under Bradley, the Red Bulls' starting lineups have averaged just 24.2 years old in 2026. For context, Nashville's youngest lineup in history averaged 24.3 years old.
Youth doesn't mean a lack of quality for Red Bulls. 18-year-old Julian Hall has scored nine goals this season, and has been one of MLS's best No. 9s. 17-year-old Adri Mehmeti has emerged as one of the best prospects ever produced by an MLS academy, with some calls for him to be a part of the USMNT World Cup roster. Red Bulls continue to produce elite talent from their academy.
SixOneFive Soccer Staff
The issue, and the growing frustration from their fans, is a lack of spending on the rest of the squad.
"In their 31 seasons, RBNY fans are still waiting for the team's first MLS Cup. The fans want ownership to do everything possible to win that title. However, a primary focus on youth development and New York's quality academy has frustrated many Red Bulls fans," Seeing Red's Mark Fishkin told SixOneFive Soccer. "The team's only summer window addition has been the elevation of forward Mijahir Jiménez from Red Bulls II. Despite the club recently opening an impressive $100M+ performance center, fans believe that there's more that can be done."
The lack of spending on top-tier players has made for an incredibly inconsistent experience in 2026. At their best, the Red Bulls have played attractive, expansive soccer, soccer that belongs with the best sides in MLS. At their worst, though – well, they've conceded 41 goals, the fourth-worst record in MLS.
At home, the Red Bulls allow an average of two goals a game. Against a Nashville side who scored four against Miami last weekend, it's a daunting task.
Predicted XI
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Nashville SC
The numbers
Goal leaders: Sam Surridge (12), Hany Mukhtar (8)
Assist leaders: Cristian Espinoza (9), Hany Mukhtar & Andy Nájar (5)
Last match: NSH 4-1 MIA (August 15, 2026 | MLS)
Data Power Rankings: 2nd (35.45 score)
Nashville SC snapshot
Nashville's remarkable 2026 campaign continued last weekend with a demolition of second-place Inter Miami, winning 4-1 at Geodis Park. All three Designated Players were involved in the goals, with new signing Elias Saad showing out in his first action with the first-choice squad.
It's hard to overstate how dominant a performance this was. It's also a very different test than playing on the road at the former Red Bull Arena, a stadium where Nashville have only won once (ironically in a 2020 match against CF Montréal).
Nashville have only beaten the Red Bulls once in their history, in last season's 2-1 win at Geodis Park. Despite the two sides' relative positions in the table, matches against Red Bull have historically been tricky ones for Nashville.
Some squad rotation is also to be expected. Head coach BJ Callaghan fielded his strongest lineup in months last weekend, and while the team sheet tonight should look similar, there's also a very winnable match on the docket this weekend against Columbus Crew on Saturday. Managing another three-match week will be crucial.
One major boost for the Coyotes is the return of midfielder Patrick Yazbek. The Australian missed out on the World Cup, and has been sidelined for Nashville's last 13 matches, after picking up an injury in warmups ahead of Nashville's Concacaf Champions Cup exit to Tigres. The 24-year-old has been back in training and made the trip to New Jersey after being fully removed from the injury report. An appearance off the bench would give Nashville even more options in midfield.
Predicted XI
Staff predictions
Ben Wright
Score: RBNY 1–1 NSH
Scorers: Elias Saad
MOTM: Elias Saad
Bold prediction: On paper, Nashville should be more than good enough to get a win here, and I think they certainly can. For whatever reason, though, the Red Bulls have always been harder for them to beat than they should. 1-1 is a fine result here.
Colby Hitchcock
Score: RBNY 0–3 NSH
Scorers: Sam Surridge, Hany Mukhtar (x2)
MOTM: Hany Mukhtar
Bold prediction: Nashville will continue their dominance, despite being on the road.
Harold Espinoza Lopez
Score: RBNY 0–1 NSH
Scorers: Sam Surridge
MOTM: Sam Surridge
Bold prediction: Nashville will score in the first 15 minutes and completely freeze out the Red Bulls for a 1-0 shutout.
Jeff Remlinger
Score: RBNY 1–1 NSH
Scorers: Sam Surridge
MOTM: Matt Corcoran
Bold prediction: Surridge scores a penalty and the Red Bulls get a red card.
Ronan Briscoe
Score: RBNY 1–2 NSH
Scorers: Sam Surridge (x2)
MOTM: Sam Surridge
Bold prediction: I'm not confident at all in this prediction, but I'll rely on Nashville's roster advantage. The 'Yotes have never scored on the road against the Red Bulls (!!!), but this Red Bull team is very all-or-nothing.
