Renasant Recap: Nashville Soccer Club Clinches Audi 2026 MLS Cup Playoffs Berth with 3-0 Win over Chicago Fire FC

• Nashville SC becomes just the ninth team in MLS history, and sixth during the expansion era, to qualify for the postseason in six of its first seven seasons
• The Boys in Gold set club records for regular season wins (17), points (57), home wins (12) and home goals scored (39)

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Sept. 19, 2026) – MLS-leading Nashville Soccer Club became the first team to clinch an Audi 2026 MLS Cup Playoffs berth by defeating Chicago Fire FC 3-0 Saturday night at GEODIS Park.

Sam Surridge scored his eighth goal in six career matches vs. the Fire in the 33^rd minute, assisted by Reed Baker-Whiting and Matthew Corcoran. Cristian Espinoza doubled Nashville’s lead in the 78^thminute, assisted by Andy Najar and Patrick Yazbek and Hany Mukhtar scored his 10^th goal in nine career appearances vs. Chicago in the 87^th minute, assisted by Espinoza and Eddi Tagseth.  

Worth the price of admission: It was a historic night at GEODIS Park Saturday with Nashville SC setting club records for regular season wins (17), points (57), home wins (12) and home goals scored (39). With its victory, NSC remains atop the MLS and Eastern Conference standings by eight and 11 points. 

One of one: By winning their club record 12^th regular season match at GEODIS Park this season, the Boys in Gold remain the only MLS team unbeaten at home in 2026 during league play with a record of 12W-0L-1D.  

Callin' the DP's: Nashville SC's three Designated Players—Cristian Espinoza, Hany Mukhtar and Sam Surridge—all scored in the same match for the first time this season. The trio has combined for 37 goals and 22 assists across all competitions (MLS, Concacaf Champions Cup, Leagues Cup) in 2026. 

Next up: Nashville SC will host Toronto FC at GEODIS Park on Saturday, Sept. 26 at 7:30 p.m. CT for Harry Potter Night™. The Boys in Gold will then be idle until Saturday, Oct. 10 at Austin FC due to the FIFA International match window taking place Sept. 21 to Oct. 6.   

Notes: 

Nashville SC:

• is the first team to clinch an Audi 2026 MLS Cup Playoffs berth
• won its club record 17^th regular season match with eight games remaining
• set a club record for regular season points with 57
• set a club record for home wins with 12
• set a club record for home goals scored in a single season with 39
• is the only team unbeaten at home in MLS play at 12W-0L-1D
• is unbeaten in 18 of its last 20 MLS matches at 13W-2L-5D
• is unbeaten in 30 of 37 matches this season across all competitions (MLS, Concacaf Champions Cup, Leagues Cup)
• is 21W-7L-9D across all competitions this season

Reed Baker-Whiting recorded his fourth MLS assist of the season

Matthew Corcoran recorded his career-high third MLS assist of the season

Cristian Espinoza

• scored his fourth MLS goal of the season
• recorded his team-leading 12^th MLS assist of 2026 and became the second player in MLS history to record 12+ assists in five or more consecutive regular seasons
• earned Man of the Match honors

Warren Madrigal did not dress due to a lower body injury

Hany Mukhtar scored his 11^th MLS goal of the season and his 10^th in nine career matches vs. Chicago

Andy Najar recorded his eighth MLS assist of the season for his 50^th career regular season goal contribution

Brian Schwake made one save for his 12^th MLS shutout of the season (club record 17^th across all competitions)  

Sam Surridge scored his team-leading 16^th MLS goal of the season and eighth in six career matches vs. Chicago 

Eddi Tagseth recorded his second MLS assist of the season

Patrick Yazbek tied his career high for regular season assists with four

Box score:                   

Nashville SC (17W-3L-6D) vs. Chicago Fire FC (11W-8L-6D) 

Sept. 19, 2026 – GEODIS Park  

Final score:                  

NSH: 3 

CHI: 0 

Scoring summary: 

NSH: Sam Surridge (A: Reed Baker-Whiting, Matthew Corcoran) 33’ 

NSH: Cristian Espinoza (A: Andy Najar, Patrick Yazbek) 78’ 

NSH: Hany Mukhtar (A: Cristian Espinoza, Eddi Tagseth) 87’ 

Discipline: 

NSH: Hany Mukhtar (Caution) 36’ 

CHI: Jack Elliott (Caution) 57’ 

Lineups:  

        
NSH starters: Brian Schwake; Reed Baker-Whiting, Maxwell Woledzi, Andy Najar (Dan Lovitz 83’); Patrick Yazbek (Eddi Tagseth 83’), Matthew Corcoran, Hany Mukhtar (C) (Alex Muyl 90’); Elias Saad (Shak Mohammed 68’), Sam Surridge, Cristian Espinoza (Josh Bauer 90’+1) 

Substitutes: Joe Willis, Jack Maher, Bryan Acosta, Ahmed Qasem 

CHI starters: Chris Brady; Andrew Gutman, Jack Elliott (C), Noah Allen, Johnny Dean (Johan Gomez 79’); Robin Lod (Jonathan Bamba 68’), Sergio Oregel Jr. (Anzor Mekvabishvili 75’), Dje D’Avilla (Mauricio Pineda 79’); Maren Haile-Selassie (Puso Dithejane 68’), Robert Lewandowski, Philip Zinckernagel 

Substitutes: Josh Cohen, Leonardo Barroso, Sam Rogers, David Poreba 

Match officials:            

Referee: Lorenzo Hernandez 

AR1: Jose Da Silva 

AR2: Felisha Mariscal 

4TH: Calin Radosav  

VAR: Timothy Ford 

AVAR: Robert Schaap  

Weather: 90 degrees and clear

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