Nashville SC vs Inter Miami CF
Concacaf Champions Cup | Round of 16
Wednesday, March 11 | 6:30 p.m. CT
GEODIS Park | Nashville, TN
Nashville SC vs Inter Miami CF
Wednesday, Mar. 11 at GEODIS Park | 6:30 p.m.
2026 Concacaf Champions Cup (CCC) Round of 16 Leg 1
Broadcast Details
Watch | FS2, ConcacafGO, OneSoccer, TUDN
Fresh off a 3-1 victory against Minnesota United over the weekend, Nashville SC returns to GEODIS Park on Wednesday night for the first of two legs against Inter Miami in the Concacaf Champions Cup Round of 16. The Boys in Gold come into the match with their best-ever start to a season (four wins, one draw) in hand and their eyes on the quarterfinals for the first time in club history.
Key Storylines
Refreshing the attacking ranks
The attacking firepower these Eastern Conference foes claimed at the end of 2025 was astounding. The two clubs held the 2025 and 2022 MLS MVPs, 2025 MLS Golden Boot leader and runner-up and the all-time Uruguayan international goalscorer within their ranks (Lionel Messi, Hany Mukhtar, Sam Surridge and Luis Suárez respectively), as well as the MLS Cup and U.S. Open Cup trophies in their cupboards. And yet, both clubs found a way to level up their attacks this offseason, now laying claim to perhaps the best pair of forward lines in MLS.
Nashville scooped up two-time MLS All-Star Cristian Espinoza from San Jose Earthquakes, where he was the all-time assists leader, as well as Warren Madrigal from Costa Rican side Deportivo Saprissa. Espinoza logged the first assist of his Nashville career in a substitute appearance against Ottawa before grabbing a goal and another assist in last weekend’s win against Minnesota United, while Madrigal made the best debut in club history with his two-assist, one-goal MLS debut in Nashville’s home opener. Miami, meanwhile, made waves by signing MLS Cup standout Tadeo Allende on a permanent deal from Celta Vigo as well as Mexican international striker Germán Berterame as a Designated Player.
With a refreshed roster, the Boys in Gold place second in MLS for goals scored this season and advanced to the Round of 16 by an aggregate score of 7-0, netting a club-record 14 goals through their opening five games. Miami sits third in MLS for goals scored, having yet to play in the Champions Cup. Wednesday’s clash, as it often has been between Nashville and Miami, should be one dominated and decided by each side’s stellar attacking talent. And with more firepower on both sides than ever before, it could well turn into a classic.
Changeups in goal
Outside the shifts in both sides’ attacking ranks, Nashville and Miami also each made a change in their starting goalkeepers this offseason. The Boys in Gold opted to stay in-house, elevating 2025 Open Cup hero Brian Schwake to the starting spot. The Herons decided to use the transfer market, snagging 2025 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year Dayne St. Clair from Minnesota United as a free agent.
The changeups have, at least so far, favored Nashville. With the Boys in Gold’s win against St. Clair’s former club last weekend, Schwake became the first goalkeeper in club history to stay undefeated through his first 10 games as a starter — nine wins and one draw dating back to last season. The American has been central to a blossoming Nashville attack with his ability to play with the ball at his feet as well, allowing his team more control in matches and far more attacking pressure as a result.
St. Clair has been serviceable for the Herons, but the Canadian international has found his start to life in South Florida more difficult than Schwake, surrendering at least one goal in all three of Miami’s games in 2026. Schwake, meanwhile, has only conceded twice through five matches, each a consolation while holding a comfortable lead.
If the course of Wednesday’s game is indeed decided by each team’s attackers, Schwake and St. Clair will be called upon often to keep their clubs in the mix. Both goalkeepers are among the most talented shot-stoppers in the Champions Cup; Wednesday will show how they perform when confronted with its most threatening shooters.
Landing the knockout punch
Nashville and Miami have met in knockout competitions a borderline comical number of times for how recently both clubs jumped to the top level of American soccer. Wednesday will mark the eighth match between the clubs in a tournament setting in three years, with previous meetings in the 2023 U.S. Open Cup, 2023 Leagues Cup, 2024 Champions Cup and 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs.
Miami has had the upper hand as of late. But the Boys in Gold have always been competitive, especially at GEODIS Park. With a more well-rounded, high-flying, high-scoring team than it has ever had at this stage of a season, Nashville is as well-poised as it has ever been to take the game to its South Florida rival.
The Champions Cup is a two-round fight. Nashville’s looking to land the first punch.
