Nashville SC vs Columbus Crew
2026 MLS Regular Season | Matchday 4
Saturday, March 14 | 5:15 p.m. CT
ScottsMiracle-Gro Field | Columbus, OH
Broadcast Details
Watch | Apple TV
Listen | 104.5 The Zone
Fresh off a thrilling first leg against Inter Miami in the Concacaf Champions Cup Round of 16, Nashville returns to MLS play Saturday evening against Columbus Crew hoping to make it seven games unbeaten to start 2026. The Boys in Gold (7 points) sit joint-top of the Eastern Conference ahead of kickoff, just two points shy of the Supporters’ Shield lead.
Key Storylines
The future is now
Aside from the acquisition of 30-year-old winger Cristian Espinoza, most of Nashville’s offseason focused on injecting a veteran squad with more youth. Maxwell Woledzi (24), Warren Madrigal (21) and Reed Baker-Whiting (20) all satisfied that goal, providing an exciting outlook for the future of soccer in Music City. That trio also all earned starting spots in Wednesday night’s clash against Miami, alongside fellow youngster Matthew Corcoran, and were arguably Nashville’s four most impactful players.
Woledzi, at least through one game, was one of the few players this side of the Atlantic Ocean able to limit the Lionel Messi magic since his move to MLS in 2023 with his astute positioning and no-nonsense clearances. His close control and dribbling skills opened plenty of passing lanes for Nashville in attack as well, including a spellbinding drop-and-turn late in the first half.
Madrigal threatened all evening down the left wing and nearly scored on the brink of halftime. Baker-Whiting was lock-tight on defense and imposing in aerial duels, forcing Miami goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair into a point-blank stop after a bullet header. And Corcoran, a standout of Nashville’s Champions Cup run, played well beyond his years in the base of midfield with his composed passing and crunching tackles.
The faith head coach B.J. Callaghan showed in this group when lights are brightest and stakes are highest, despite their newness to the squad or age, is an immense testament to their quality and potential. After all, why wait for the future if it’s already here?
Oh captain, my captain
The Boys in Gold have been a remarkably well-rounded unit through 2026 so far, scoring a club-record 14 goals through six games while only conceding twice. Star striker Sam Surridge leads MLS in goals scored with four, Espinoza logged two goal contributions in Nashville’s last MLS game and Woobens Pacius has scored twice in two starting appearances.
Nashville’s offense is elite. But what’s even scarier for opponents is that perhaps its most productive engine has yet to explode.
Hany Mukhtar was superb in 2025, logging double figures in both goals (16) and assists (12) in MLS play for the third time in his Nashville career, including a vital goal in his team’s 2-1 victory in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup final. On his day, few players in MLS can match the Nashville captain’s technique, positioning, skill with the ball and shot selection. That combination of traits is what has enabled Mukhtar to become the most productive offensive player currently active in MLS, earn the 2022 MLS MVP award and sit just one league goal contribution short of 150.
Mukhtar is a mercurial MLS midfielder and indisputably one of the best players in the league’s history. He’s been productive in 2026 — one goal and one assist in four starts so far — but the German’s dizzying standards throughout seven years in Nashville mean there’s plenty of output still to come. That could well change against Columbus. And given Mukhtar’s track record, it would surprise few if it did.
Series History + What's Next
Nashville and Columbus have enjoyed a competitive history with one another, with the Boys in Gold holding a 3-4-4 record all-time against the Crew. Nashville held the upper hand in 2025, drawing 2-2 in Columbus in May before a 3-0 win at GEODIS Park in July.
The Boys in Gold continue their road tour after Saturday’s match, jumping to South Florida for the second leg of the Champions Cup Round of 16.
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