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  "description": "Can the 'Yotes kick off a lengthy road stretch in MLS with a win?",
  "path": "/preview-chicago-fire-vs-nashville-sc-2026/",
  "publishedAt": "2026-04-03T17:00:17.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.sixonefivesoccer.com",
  "tags": [
    "CHI 0-2 NSH (June 14, 2025 | MLS)",
    "Data Power Rankings",
    "Zoomed N interview",
    "Zoomed N: Chicago Fire with Men In Red 97Tim Hotze stops by to catch us up on the FireSixOneFive SoccerSixOneFive Soccer Staff",
    "Mbekezeli Mbokazi is the most popular player in MLS you’ve never heard ofThe rising South African talent has brought his skill – and intense following – with him to the Chicago FireThe AthleticPaul Tenorio",
    "NSH 5-0 ORL (March 21, 2026 | MLS)",
    "Recap: Nashville SC score seven goals in Chicago Fire routeSam Surridge’s four goals capped off the most dominant victory in Nashville SC history, and one of the biggest wins ever in MLSSixOneFive SoccerBen Wright",
    "Concacaf Champions Cup match",
    "Ben Wright",
    "Chris Ivey",
    "Jeff Remlinger",
    "Ronan Briscoe",
    "Valair Shabilla"
  ],
  "textContent": "The FIFA international break is over, and the 2026 MLS season picks up in full force this weekend. All 30 teams will be in action on Saturday, with Nashville SC traveling to take on a Chicago Fire side they've dominated in recent meetings.\n\n## Match info\n\n**Teams:** Chicago Fire FC vs Nashville SC\n**Referees:** Marcos DeOliveira II (Ref), Stefan Tanaka-Freundt (AR1), Kevin Lock (AR2), Jon Freemon****(4th), Carol Anne Chenard (VAR), Melissa Beck (AVAR)\n**Odds:** CHI (+130), Draw (+210), NSH (+205)\n**Date:** Saturday, April 3, 2026\n**Time:** 7:30 pm CT, Soldier Field, Chicago, IL, United States\n**TV:** Apple TV+\n**Apple TV Commentary:** Neil Sika & Kyndra de St. Aubin (English), Nacho Garcia (Spanish)\n**Radio:** 104.5 The Zone\n**Radio Commentary (104.5):** Will Boling\n**Forecast:** 62º/41º. 46º at kickoff. Cloudy. 7-15 mph winds, gusts up to 31 mph. 0% chance of rain. 73% humidity.\n\n## Head-to-head\n\n🆚\n\n****Meetings:****__9__\n****Nashville wins:****__6__\n****Nashville goals:****__22__\n****Draws:****__2__\n****Chicago wins:****__1__\n****Chicago goals:****__5__\n****Last meeting:**** CHI 0-2 NSH (June 14, 2025 | MLS)\n\n## Chicago Fire\n\n __Bill Streicher-Imagn Images__\n\n### The numbers\n\n🔴\n\n****Standings:**** 5th (East) | 7 points | 2W-1D-2L | +2 GD\n****Goal leaders:**** Hugo Cuypers (4), Jonathan Bamba (2)\n****Assist leaders:**** Hugo Cuypers, Robin Lod, Andrew Gutman (1)\n****Last match:**** PHI 1-2 CHI (MLS regular season)\nData Power Rankings****:**** 13th (14.46 score)\n\n### Chicago snapshot\n\nThe Fire have had an inconsistent start to the season. Through five matches, they haven't been able to string together consecutive wins yet. They've had mixed results at Soldier Field — albeit in a small sample size — with a 3-0 win over CF Montréal in their home opener and a 2-1 loss to DC United.\n\n\"While they haven't truly been outplayed in any of their games this season, they've also struggled to control games, and the offense hasn't been clicking the same way it was for so much of 2025,\" _Men In Red 97_ 's Tim Hotze said in his Zoomed N interview. \"Overall, the Fire should feel disappointed with two losses in games that were winnable, but also, like they have work to do if they're going to take a step forward, not a step back.\"\n\nZoomed N: Chicago Fire with Men In Red 97Tim Hotze stops by to catch us up on the FireSixOneFive SoccerSixOneFive Soccer Staff\n\nThis is a Fire team that saw plenty of turnover this winter. Homegrown No. 10 **Brian Gutiérrez** was transferred to Chivas for a reported $5 million fee (where he's teammates with former Nashville winger **Jonathan Pérez**). Chicago replaced him with former Minnesota standout **Robin Lod** , who signed as a free agent after several years as one of the more underrated playmakers in MLS. He's a different type of creator, though, and the attack has taken longer to adapt than maybe initially expected.\n\nIn the back, defender **Mbekezeli Mbokazi** has been a star. The U22 Initiative signing is a borderline celebrity in his native South Africa, bringing an increase of 180,000 followers to the Fire social accounts in the first 48 hours after his signing.\n\nMbekezeli Mbokazi is the most popular player in MLS you’ve never heard ofThe rising South African talent has brought his skill – and intense following – with him to the Chicago FireThe AthleticPaul Tenorio\n\nHe's impressed on the field as well, forming a strong partnership with captain and MLS veteran **Jack Elliott**. Chicago have allowed just five goals this season, the third-best defensive record in the Eastern Conference. Playing at home, against a Nashville side who have been elite offensively, they'll place even more emphasis on maintaining some defensive solidity.\n\n### Predicted XI\n\n* * *\n\nIf you're still reading this, you love Nashville soccer. So do we!\nSign up today for the best Nashville soccer coverage on the market.\n\nSign up!\n\n* * *\n\n## Nashville SC\n\n __Christina Moore-SixOneFive Soccer__\n\n### The numbers\n\n🟡\n\n****Standings:**** 1st (East) | 13 points | 4W-1D-0L | +11 GD\n****Goal leaders:**** Sam Surridge (7), Cristian Espinoza, Warren Madrigal, Hany Mukhtar (2)\n****Assist leaders:**** Cristian Espinoza (3), Warren Madrigal, Andy Nájar, Patrick Yazbek (2)\n****Last match:**** NSH 5-0 ORL (March 21, 2026 | MLS)\nData Power Rankings****:**** 2nd (28.09 score)\n\n### Nashville SC snapshot\n\nNashville have had Chicago's number historically. They've won six of their nine meetings, outscoring the Fire 22-5. They've played better against the Fire than any team in the Eastern Conference, with their +1.89 goal differential per game significantly higher than their next-closest opponent (CF Montréal — +0.91). The 'Yotes have won the last four meetings by a combined 13-2 scoreline, with their last loss coming in July of 2023.\n\nRecap: Nashville SC score seven goals in Chicago Fire routeSam Surridge’s four goals capped off the most dominant victory in Nashville SC history, and one of the biggest wins ever in MLSSixOneFive SoccerBen Wright\n\nLast season's 7-2 win sparked Nashville's best form of the season, with**Sam Surridge** making international news with his four-goal performance.\n\nThat's almost certainly not replicable — it wasn't last season, either, as Nashville followed it with a professional 2-0 win in the reverse fixture. They'll be aiming for a similar result, maintaining their unbeaten start to the season while staying fresh and in-form ahead of Tuesday's Concacaf Champions Cup match against Club América.\n\nHow much head coach **BJ Callaghan** opts to rotate remains to be seen. Nashville haven't played in 14 days, and players need regular minutes to maintain their high level. They're also about to play five matches in 14 days, with four of those coming on the road. And while putting points on the MLS table is paramount, even at this early stage of the season, the opportunity in front of them in a Concacaf Champions Cup Quarterfinal against one of the most historic clubs in North America deserves their best effort.\n\nCallaghan has kept a strong lineup in MLS play throughout their CCC run, and with just 11 matches on the calendar before the league takes nearly a two-month break for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, he can probably afford to push players a little more than usual.\n\nKeep an eye out on the Starting XI announcement tomorrow evening to get a sense for how they're approaching this one.\n\n### Predicted XI\n\n## Staff predictions\n\n### Ben Wright\n\n**Score:** CHI 1-2 NSH\n**Scorers:** Sam Surridge, Hany Mukhtar\n**MOTM:** Cristian Espinoza\n**Bold prediction:** BJ Callaghan hasn't rotated much this season, and I don't expect that to start until after the first leg against América. It'll be a really tight match, but Nashville have more quality at the moment.\n\n### Chris Ivey\n\n**Score:** CHI 1-1 NSH\n**Scorers:** Sam Surridge\n**MOTM:** Sam Surridge\n**Bold prediction:** Callaghan rotates heavily, but Surridge subs on to rescue a point.\n\n### Jeff Remlinger\n\n**Score:** CHI 0-2 NSH\n**Scorers:** Sam Surridge, Hany Mukhtar\n**MOTM:** Hany Mukhtar\n**Bold prediction:** This is only Nashville's third match this season with full rest. They won the previous two comfortably, and that continues in Chicago.\n\n### Ronan Briscoe\n\n**Score:** CHI 1-1 NSH\n**Scorers:** Sam Surridge\n**MOTM:** Eddi Tagseth\n**Bold prediction:** It's a bit testy on the road following the international break, with neither team in top form. Both teams leave with something.\n\n### Valair Shabilla\n\n**Score:** CHI 1-1 NSH\n**Scorers:** Hany Mukhtar\n**MOTM:** Hany Mukhtar\n**Bold prediction:** To everyone's surprise, it'll be a fairly boring match.\n\n## Pre-match media",
  "title": "Preview: Chicago Fire vs Nashville SC",
  "updatedAt": "2026-04-03T17:25:24.040Z"
}