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  "description": "Our staff predicts the 2026 campaign for the Boys In Gold. Can they add another trophy to the cabinet?",
  "path": "/sixonefive-soccer-predicts-nashville-scs-2026-season/",
  "publishedAt": "2026-02-17T16:30:38.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.sixonefivesoccer.com",
  "tags": [
    "Join today!",
    "**Ben Wright**",
    "**Chris Ivey**",
    "**Christina Moore**",
    "**Jeff Remlinger**",
    "**Johel Maza**",
    "**Omari Jackson**",
    "**Ronan Briscoe**",
    "**Valair Shabilla**"
  ],
  "textContent": "Nashville SC's season officially kicks off tonight, February 17, in the frigid northern air of Hamilton, Ontario. The 'Yotes enter the season with higher expectations than ever before, and real pressure to build on their successful 2025 campaign.\n\nTo preview the season, the full panel of _SixOneFive Soccer_ staff made their predictions for the 2026 campaign, including how many goals the Coyotes will score, their playoff odds, and what defines success after lifting the first trophy in club history last year.\n\n\n\nSign up for a new annual membership during our preseason sale and save 25%!\n\n Join today! \n\n### What defines success for Nashville in 2025?\n\n**Ben Wright****:**_Improving their game model from 2025 to be better in possession and more dangerous against set defenses, being a legitimate Supporters' Shield contender all season, and avoiding the mid-season slump that has become a trademark. If they do this, they will challenge for trophies, which is the ultimate determination of success._\n\n**Chris Ivey****:**_Top 4 finish or silverware._\n\n**Christina Moore****:**_It's hard to beat a cup year, but if I'm thinking beyond another trophy – the bar is beating Inter Miami consistently, or at least not getting blown out by them. And maybe hosting playoffs._\n\n**Jeff Remlinger****:**_Setting up the system for sustained success. This core is good; they're also old. Nashville needs to develop guys like**Ahmed Qasem** , **Matt Corcoran** and **Chris Applewhite** to set the team up as perennial contenders._\n\n**Johel Maza****:**_Home field Advantage in the playoffs AND a trophy._\n\n**Omari Jackson****:**_Competing for trophies and winning big games at Geodis Park. Nashville will need to make a deep run in multiple competitions to take the next step._\n\n**Ronan Briscoe****:**_Finishing top four in the East, beating Miami ONCE in ANYTHING!_\n\n**Stephen Robinson:**_Please beat Miami... Please!_\n\n**Valair Shabilla****:**_Another trophy._\n\n### What are you most optimistic about for Nashville in 2026?\n\n**Ben:**_The setup under**BJ Callaghan** is excellent at generating chances for the forwards. That, plus the addition of **Cristian Espinoza** , should make them one of the elite attacking teams in MLS._\n\n**Chris:**_Espinoza leveling up the attack to an elite level._\n\n**Christina:**_Having seen a few practices, I'm really excited about the chemistry on the field, not just with Espinoza. This feels like the most depth Nashville have had._\n\n**Jeff:**_Nashville have three MLS-proven DPs, something that's incredibly rare in MLS. Even if everyone else on the team is just average, those three will raise the ceiling to contender level._\n\n**Johel:**_Depth throughout the roster._\n\n**Omari:**_I’m optimistic that this team will be even better than last year's. Nashville are ready to take the step into being an elite team._\n\n**Ronan:**_More improved ability to play within BJ's system._\n\n**Stephen:**_The fluidity and flexibility for changes in the lineup. Different attacking options that can come in and change a game, and not all of the attack being dependent on Hany and Sam._\n\n**Valair:**_Attacking depth._\n\n### What concerns you most for NSC?\n\n**Ben:**_The lack of quality depth at fullback concerns me, especially with age concerns for**Andy Nájar** and **Dan Lovitz**. I'd feel better with another midfielder and winger, but I think the World Cup break will probably allow Nashville to weather the first half of the year before adding reinforcements in the summer.\n\nI'm also a bit concerned about transitioning away from both **Walker Zimmerman** and **Joe Willis** in the same season. I think the pieces they have now are good – better, even – but that's a lot of leadership to move away from in one go._\n\n**Chris:**_Midfield ball progression and the age of Lovitz and Najar._\n\n**Christina:**_The Miami Curse._\n\n**Jeff:**_Depth and age. There is no one like Najar, Lovitz, and**Hany Mukhtar**. They're irreplaceable. But also on the wrong side of 30. Can they put together another Best XI season?_\n\n**Johel:**_Fullbacks: a big drop off in quality or unproven talent from the starters to the second options._\n\n**Omari:**_The central midfield and fullback options are still not where they need to be. It will be a long season, and pieces are needed there._\n\n**Ronan:**_Wing depth._\n\n**Stephen:**_DP and wingback production dropping._\n\n**Valair:**_Fullback and midfield depth_\n\n### **Will Nashville make the playoffs in 2025?**\n\n**Ben:**_Yes._\n\n**Chris:** _Yes._\n\n**Christina:**_Duh._\n\n**Jeff:**_Yes, and Pharma won't mention Nashville in a playoff battle at any point this season._\n\n**Johel:**_Yes_.\n\n**Omari:** _Yes_.\n\n**Ronan:**_1000% yes._\n\n**Stephen:**_Is this an actual question?_\n\n**Valair:** _Yes_.\n\n### **Will Nashville win silverware in 2025?**\n\n**Ben:**_Yes, they'll win Leagues Cup. At least._\n\n**Chris:**_No_.\n\n**Christina:**_Yes! MLS Cup baby! Calling it now._\n\n**Jeff:**_Yes. Leagues Cup._\n\n**Johel:**_Yes. Leagues Cup or Supporters' Shield._\n\n**Omari:** _No._\n\n**Ronan:** _No._\n\n**Stephen:**_All of it, including the World Cup._\n\n**Valair:**_Yes, Leagues Cup._\n\n### Will Nashville score over or under 57.5 MLS goals in 2026?\n\n**Ben:**_Over (72)_\n\n**Chris:**_Over (64)_\n\n**Christina:**_Over - saying 67_\n\n**Jeff:**_Over (65)_\n\n**Johel:**_Over (62)_\n\n**Omari:**_Over (61)_\n\n**Ronan:**_Over (at least 60)_\n\n**Stephen:** _Over by at least 10._\n\n**Valair:**_Over_\n\n### Will Nashville concede over or under 44.5 MLS goals in 2026?\n\n**Ben:**_Under (44)_\n\n**Chris:**_Over (50)_\n\n**Christina:**_Under (30)_\n\n**Jeff:**_Under (43)_\n\n**Johel:**_Under (39)_\n\n**Omari:**_Over (46)_\n\n**Ronan:**_Under (38)_\n\n**Stephen:___Over, probably_**\n\n**Valair:**_Over_\n\n### Which Nashville SC player will score the most goals in all competitions in 2026?\n\n**Everyone:**_Sam Surridge_\n\n**Stephen:**_Daniel Lovitz_\n\n### Which Nashville SC player will have the most assists in all competitions in 2026?\n\n**Ben:** _Hany Mukhtar_\n\n**Chris:**_Cristian Espinoza_\n\n**Christina:**_Hany Mukhtar_\n\n**Jeff:**_Cristian Espinoza_\n\n**Johel:**_Cristian Espinoza_\n\n**Omari:**_Cristian Espinoza_\n\n**Ronan:**_Cristian Espinoza_\n\n**Stephen:**_Daniel Lovitz_\n\n**Valair:**_Cristian Espinoza_\n\n### Who will be Nashville's breakout player in 2026?\n\n**Ben:**_Matt Corcoran_\n\n**Chris:**_Brian Schwake_\n\n**Christina:**_Patrick Yazbek. He continues to be such a force on the pitch. It's a different game when he's not out there AND with World Cup attention this year – it could be the catalyst for him._\n\n**Jeff:**_Matthew Corcoran_\n\n**Johel:**_Ahmed Qasem_\n\n**Omari:**_Warren Madrigal_\n\n**Ronan:** _Maxwell Woledzi_\n\n**Valair:**_Matt Corcoran_\n\n### What’s your bold prediction or hot take for Nashville heading into 2026?\n\n**Ben:**_Sam Surridge starts the season on a heater, and transfer interest from England gets even more serious in the summer._\n\n**Chris:**_This is BJ’s last season with Nashville. He is hired as the USMNT manager following the end of the year._\n\n**Christina:**_NASHVILLE ELIMINATE INTER MIAMI FROM SILVERWARE CONTENTION!_\n\n**Jeff:**_Nashville sell three players for more than $3 million each by the end of the 2027 January transfer window. Perez, Yazbek, and a mystery third. Possibly Corcoran, Tagseth or Surridge?_\n\n**Johel:**_Nashville break the unbeaten streak set last year and go on a 20-game unbeaten streak._\n\n**Omari:**_Nashville make it to at least the quarterfinals in Champions Cup and Leagues Cup._\n\n**Ronan:**_Ahmed Qasem gets 10 goals and assists._\n\n**Valair:**_Ahmed Qasem has 10+ goals (all competitions)._\n\n### **Free space**\n\n**Ben:**_Nashville are in the middle of their championship window. Who knows how long it will last, but they can't afford to let seasons go to waste._\n\n**Chris:**_This team is one high-end defensive midfielder away from elite status. It would create tactical wrinkles, keep the midfield fresh through the grind, and allow Yazbek/Eddi more chances to be a late runner into the box._\n\n**Jeff:**_I hate saying a trophy is the expectation, because you have to be lucky to win one. No one wants to hear it, but Nashville's golden age is going to run head-to-head with the best team in MLS history in Inter Miami. That's pretty unlucky._\n\n_Nashville could be the second-best team on paper and still go trophyless, which is why I want them to continue developing youth for sustained success; eventually, talent and opportunity will meet and result in a trophy._\n\n**Johel:** _I can't wait to see the Boys in Gold play! They will be turning heads._\n\n**Ronan:**_Huntsville City FC make the MLS NEXT Pro Eastern Conference final!_\n\n**Stephen:___Lol Clay didn’t do this either, what a nerd._**\n\n**Valair:**_I think Nashville will struggle defensively, especially on the counter. That said, they have enough in attack where that won't kill them, it'll just be annoying for the fans. Also, subscribe to Six One Five Soccer!!_",
  "title": "SixOneFive Soccer Predicts: Nashville SC's 2026 season",
  "updatedAt": "2026-02-17T20:12:25.821Z"
}