Nashville SC vs. Austin FC
2026 MLS Regular Season | Matchday 31
Saturday, October 10 | 7:30 p.m. CT
Q2 Stadium | Austin, TX
Broadcast Details
Watch | Apple TV
Listen | 104.5 The Zone
Nashville SC is in the driver’s seat for every title still on offer. The Boys in Gold pace the league with 18 wins from 27 matches, holding double-digit leads in the Eastern Conference table and Supporters’ Shield standings. Their next test, the first of five this month, is a Saturday evening trip to Austin FC (13th in the Western Conference), where they hope to keep steady for the all-time points record and inch closer to regular-season glory.
Key Storylines
Another night to remember?
Nashville has only made the trek to Q2 Stadium twice before: once in September 2022 and again in early October of 2025. The former was a relatively unremarkable 1-1 draw, settled by a Hany Mukhtar penalty. The latter, however, was anything but. It has a compelling argument as the most important match and most important win in the Boys in Gold’s history, and perhaps the one that set it on track to be as successful as it has in 2026.
That night was, of course, the U.S. Open Cup Final: the climax of America’s oldest and biggest club competition. After blitzing its way through Orlando, D.C. and Philadelphia by a combined 11-5, Nashville came to Texas last fall looking to secure the first trophy in club history against a battle-tested Austin side, also seeking its inaugural bit of silverware. The match lived up to its billing: Mukhtar opened the scoring inside 17 minutes with a superb half-volley from the center of the box before Myrto Uzuni equalized just before halftime, avenging an early penalty Brian Schwake saved. A Sam Surridge spot kick on the hour mark settled the evening 2-1 in the visitors’ favor, prompting a frenzy of celebration from the traveling fans.
Winning begets more winning. Players will tell you that taking the trophy last year has added a mental edge as they chase even greater prizes this season, including a charge to the semifinals of the Concacaf Champions Cup this spring and a potential MLS Cup run later this winter. A return to Q2 Stadium is not, then, just another away day. It’s a reintroduction to a venue which validated Nashville’s project, inspired its squad and spurred its successes this season. Does another memorable triumph await on Saturday?
Back to full strength
Perhaps the key storyline of Nashville’s previous MLS game was the absence of several players to international responsibilities. Xavier Valdez, Ahmed Qasem, Patrick Yazbek and Brian Schwake all missed time in late September to their respective national camps, forcing the Boys in Gold into several lineup changes in their match against Toronto.
As it turns out, Nashville is still pretty darn good even without some of its stars. Mukhtar carried the scoring load with a superb brace as Matthew Corcoran and Eddi Tagseth held down Yazbek’s spot in midfield, supported by a vintage performance by veteran goalie Joe Willis. Now that the international break has ended, however, the Boys in Gold are back to full strength and look ready as ever to resume their dominance.
Schwake may be the biggest beneficiary. The 25-year-old returns to Nashville’s setup on the back of the first U.S. Men’s National Team call-up of his career, where he helped the Stars and Stripes to a pair of wins. He looked sharp as ever despite the increased stakes, making three saves in his first international start en route to a shutout against Canada. Schwake doesn’t need more confidence given the season he’s had so far (he leads MLS in clean sheets, save percentage and goals allowed), but such a composed showing under such bright lights proves that he’s ready for whatever tests may still come. His backup, Valdez, had a superb window as well, aiding the Dominican Republic to three Concacaf Nations League wins.
Depth is an absolute necessity for Nashville given the amount of running head coach B.J. Callaghan demands of his players, making the returns of Yazbek and Qasem particularly vital. Combined with an attack firing on all cylinders and defense fresh from two weeks off, the Boys in Gold are perhaps more in-form and well-rested than at any other point this season. That bodes immensely well for Saturday’s trip and the other six matches Nashville plays before the regular season concludes on Nov. 7.
Series History & What’s Next
Nashville SC owns the upper hand in its all-time series with Austin, winning twice and drawing once in their four previous MLS matchups in addition to the 2025 Open Cup triumph. Mukhtar accounts for three of the Boys in Gold’s five league goals in that span, joined by two clean sheets for Willis.
Nashville’s packed October roars into gear upon the conclusion of Saturday’s match with a further two games in seven days. The Boys in Gold first return to GEODIS Park to play Sporting Kansas City on Wednesday evening ahead of a weekend trip to San Jose.
