Amid Nashville SC’s record-breaking 2026 MLS season, more history will be there for the taking on Decision Day.
With a win or a draw at FC Cincinnati in Saturday’s regular-season finale (4 pm ET | Apple TV), the Coyotes can break the league’s single-season points record of 74, which they currently share with Inter Miami CF (2024).
The chance to stand alone as the most statistically dominant single-season in MLS history has Nashville aiming high ahead of their visit to TQL Stadium.
“We’ve tried to aspire to be able to compete with the elite teams of this area,” head coach B.J. Callaghan told reporters on Friday. “So for us, it’s about putting in consistent performances, regardless of context, regardless of circumstances. We wanna try to be able to put the most complete 90 minutes together.
“We know we’re going up against a really good team that’s playing for a lot in this match. And so are we.”
Milestone season
Points record or not, Nashville’s 2026 season has already been one for the history books.
Behind the superstar Designated Player attacking trio of Hany Mukhtar, Sam Surridge and Cristian Espinoza, the Coyotes won their first Supporters’ Shield title. And they did so overwhelmingly, setting a new MLS record with 15 home wins (while going undefeated overall at GEODIS Park with a 15W-0L-2D record) and producing the best-ever start to a season through 21 games (49 points).
“We know we can score goals in two, three minutes. So, we always have to keep pushing and keep fighting,” said Mukhtar, who made history of his own by becoming the first player in MLS to produce at least 25 goal contributions in five different seasons.
“The group has the spirit. We don’t give up, and that is the mentality."
Defensively, Nashville have been just as impressive, giving up a league-low 25 goals. The backline is led by the All-Star duo of fullback Andy Nájar and US men's national team goalkeeper Brian Schwake, while Maxwell Woledzi and Jeisson Palacios make up one of the league’s most formidable center-back pairings.
Should they keep a clean sheet on Saturday, Nashville will break the 2022 Philadelphia Union’s record for the fewest goals allowed (26) in a 34-game MLS season.
MLS Cup dreams
Beyond Decision Day, Nashville are setting their sights firmly on the Audi 2026 MLS Cup Playoffs.
As the No. 1 seed in the standings, the Coyotes have home-field advantage at GEODIS Park throughout the postseason, including MLS Cup 2026 presented by Audi should they reach the Dec. 18 final.
By lifting the Philip F. Anschutz Trophy, Nashville would become the ninth team (seventh club) in league history to win the MLS Cup-Supporters’ Shield double, and the first since LAFC in 2022.
“We’ll be able to spend a little bit of time really focusing on ourselves,” Callaghan said of the two-week break they’ll have before their Round One Best-of-3 series against the Eastern Conference Wild Card winners.
“Which I think is a great opportunity to continue to improve so that the best version of ourselves starts in that new season, which is the playoffs.”
