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Nashville SC vs Columbus Crew match preview: kick-off, venue & predictions

The next Nashville SC match sees the Eastern Conference leaders host Columbus Crew in Major League Soccer on 23 August 2026. This Nashville SC vs Columbus Crew preview focuses on a key Regular Season - 21 clash at Geodis Park in Nashville, with the home side looking to consolidate top spot and extend their outstanding home record.

For fans wondering when Nashville SC play next, this fixture kicks off at 00:30 UTC, with the game listed as Not Started in the official data. Nashville come into the contest flying high in the Eastern Conference, while Columbus Crew arrive under pressure after a difficult campaign so far. With contrasting form lines and a rich recent head-to-head history, this Nashville SC vs Columbus Crew preview sets up a compelling MLS encounter.

Match details: date, kick-off & venue

  • Competition: Major League Soccer, Regular Season - 21
  • Date / Kick-off: 2026-08-23T00:30:00Z
  • Venue: Geodis Park, Nashville
  • Status: Not Started (Fixture has not started yet)

Standings & form

Nashville SC sit 1st in the Eastern Conference on 46 points after 20 matches (14 wins, 4 draws, 2 losses). They have scored 40 goals and conceded 15, for a goal difference of +25. Their recent form line reads WWDLW. At Geodis Park, Nashville have been dominant: in 10 home games they have 9 wins, 1 draw and 0 defeats, scoring 29 and conceding 10. Away from home they have 5 wins, 3 draws and 2 losses (11 goals for, 5 against).

Columbus Crew arrive in Nashville placed 12th in the Eastern Conference with 20 points from 20 matches (5 wins, 5 draws, 10 losses). They have scored 28 and conceded 33, giving a goal difference of -5. Their current form string is LLDWL. On their travels, Columbus have struggled: in 10 away fixtures they have just 1 win, 3 draws and 6 defeats, with 15 goals scored and 22 conceded. At home they have 4 wins, 2 draws and 4 losses (13 for, 11 against).

Season statistics highlight how well-organised Nashville have been. They have kept 9 clean sheets across their 20 league matches and have failed to score only 4 times. Columbus, by contrast, have managed 3 clean sheets and have failed to find the net in 3 games. Nashville have successfully converted all 3 of their penalties this season, while Columbus have scored 3 of 4 spot-kicks. Disciplinary numbers show Nashville picking up a notable cluster of yellow cards late in games, with a red card also recorded in the 76–90 minute range, while Columbus have accumulated yellow cards fairly evenly across matches.

Head-to-head

  • 2026-03-14: Columbus Crew 0–1 Nashville SC (Major League Soccer)
  • 2026-02-11: Nashville SC 1–0 Columbus Crew (Friendlies Clubs)
  • 2025-07-17: Nashville SC 3–0 Columbus Crew (Major League Soccer)
  • 2025-05-29: Columbus Crew 2–2 Nashville SC (Major League Soccer)
  • 2024-07-03: Columbus Crew 2–0 Nashville SC (Major League Soccer)
  • 2024-03-31: Nashville SC 2–2 Columbus Crew (Major League Soccer)
  • 2023-06-24: Columbus Crew 2–0 Nashville SC (Major League Soccer)
  • 2023-05-29: Nashville SC 3–1 Columbus Crew (Major League Soccer)
  • 2022-04-02: Columbus Crew 0–1 Nashville SC (Major League Soccer)
  • 2021-10-21: Nashville SC 1–1 Columbus Crew (Major League Soccer)

The head-to-head record shows a competitive rivalry with Nashville SC enjoying several strong results in recent seasons, particularly at Geodis Park where they have recorded 3–0 and 3–1 wins. Columbus Crew have also had their moments, including 2–0 home victories in both 2024 and 2023, while a number of encounters have ended level, underlining how often these sides have shared points.

Team news & absences

For Nashville SC, W. Madrigal is listed as Questionable with a Lower-Body Injury ahead of this fixture.

Columbus Crew have several confirmed absences. W. Abou Ali (Knee Injury), S. Bangoura (Ankle Injury) and J. Thiare (Leg Injury) are all marked as Missing Fixture for this match, reducing Columbus’s attacking and squad options for the trip to Nashville.

Key players to watch

  • S. Surridge (Nashville SC) — 12 goals in Major League Soccer 2026 make him a major attacking threat and a focal point for Nashville’s offence.
  • C. Espinoza (Nashville SC) — With 3 goals and 8 assists, Espinoza is a creative hub, contributing both scoring and chance creation from the attacking line.

Prediction

The data-driven Nashville SC vs Columbus Crew prediction model leans strongly towards the hosts avoiding defeat. The projections give 45% home win, 45% draw and just 10% away win, with the advisory tip listed as: “Double chance : Nashville SC or draw”. With Nashville top of the Eastern Conference and boasting a perfect unbeaten home record, while Columbus struggle on the road and sit 12th, the numbers clearly favour the home side to take at least a point from this encounter.

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