Nashville SC vs Columbus Crew preview: match date, venue & key points

The next Nashville SC match sees the Eastern Conference leaders host Columbus Crew in Major League Soccer. The fixture is scheduled for 23 August 2026 with kick-off at 00:30 UTC at Geodis Park in Nashville, as part of the Regular Season - 21 round. This Nashville SC vs Columbus Crew preview looks at how the sides are shaping up in terms of standings, form, head-to-head record and injuries.

When fans ask when Nashville SC play next, the answer is a high-stakes conference clash on home turf. Nashville sit top of the Eastern Conference and have been dominant at Geodis Park, while Columbus arrive in the lower half of the same conference and fighting to improve an inconsistent season. With both teams already familiar foes in MLS, this meeting could have a big say in the direction of their respective campaigns.

Match details: date, kick-off & venue

• Competition: Major League Soccer, Regular Season - 21
• Date / Kick-off: 2026-08-23T00:30:00Z
• Venue: Geodis Park, Nashville
• Status: Not Started

Standings & form

Nashville SC come into this game in a strong position in the Eastern Conference. They are 1st with 46 points from 20 matches, built on a record of 14 wins, 4 draws and just 2 defeats. They have scored 40 goals and conceded 15, for a goal difference of +25. Their recent form string reads WWDLW. At Geodis Park, Nashville have been outstanding: in 10 home matches they have 9 wins, 1 draw and 0 losses, scoring 29 and conceding 10. Away from home they have played 10, with 5 wins, 3 draws and 2 losses, scoring 11 and conceding 5.

Columbus Crew travel to Tennessee sitting 12th in the same Eastern Conference table. They have collected 20 points from 20 matches with a record of 5 wins, 5 draws and 10 defeats. Columbus have scored 28 goals and conceded 33, giving a goal difference of -5. Their recent form string is LLDWL, underlining a difficult run. At home they have played 10 (4 wins, 2 draws, 4 losses, 13 scored, 11 conceded), while their away form is more concerning: in 10 away games they have 1 win, 3 draws and 6 defeats, with 15 goals scored and 22 conceded.

Season statistics add more context. Nashville have kept 9 clean sheets across their 20 league fixtures, with 3 at home and 6 away, and have failed to score in only 4 matches (all away). They are also perfect from the spot, converting 3 penalties out of 3. Columbus, by contrast, have registered 3 clean sheets (all at home) and have failed to score in 3 matches. From a discipline standpoint, both sides have accumulated a notable number of yellow cards, with Nashville also recording 1 red card late in games this season.

Head-to-head

• 2026-03-14: Columbus Crew 0–1 Nashville SC (Major League Soccer)
• 2026-02-11: Nashville SC 1–0 Columbus Crew (Friendlies Clubs)
• 2025-07-17: Nashville SC 3–0 Columbus Crew (Major League Soccer)
• 2025-05-29: Columbus Crew 2–2 Nashville SC (Major League Soccer)
• 2024-07-03: Columbus Crew 2–0 Nashville SC (Major League Soccer)
• 2024-03-31: Nashville SC 2–2 Columbus Crew (Major League Soccer)
• 2023-06-24: Columbus Crew 2–0 Nashville SC (Major League Soccer)
• 2023-05-29: Nashville SC 3–1 Columbus Crew (Major League Soccer)
• 2022-04-02: Columbus Crew 0–1 Nashville SC (Major League Soccer)
• 2021-10-21: Nashville SC 1–1 Columbus Crew (Major League Soccer)

The head-to-head record between Nashville SC and Columbus Crew has been competitive, but recent meetings lean toward Nashville. In 2026 alone, Nashville have beaten Columbus twice, 1–0 away in MLS and 1–0 at home in a friendly. Nashville also recorded a 3–0 home win in 2025 league play, while several matches have finished level, including 2–2 draws in 2025 and 2024. Columbus have had their moments too, notably 2–0 home victories in 2024 and 2023. Overall, Nashville have enjoyed strong results at Geodis Park and have shown they can win both home and away in this matchup.

Team news & absences

For the hosts, W. Madrigal (Nashville SC) is listed as Questionable with a Lower-Body Injury ahead of this fixture.

Columbus Crew have several confirmed absentees. W. Abou Ali is marked as Missing Fixture due to a Knee Injury, while S. Bangoura will also miss out with an Ankle Injury. In addition, J. Thiare is ruled out with a Leg Injury. These injuries could limit Columbus’ attacking and rotation options for this trip to Nashville.

Key players to watch

• S. Surridge (Nashville SC) — The attacker has scored 12 goals in MLS this season, emerging as a major threat in the final third for the Eastern Conference leaders.
• C. Espinoza (Nashville SC) — An important creative presence, Espinoza has contributed 3 goals and 8 assists, making him a key supply line in the Nashville attack.

Prediction

The data model for this Nashville SC vs Columbus Crew prediction strongly favors the home side avoiding defeat. The prediction tool gives 45% probability to a Nashville win, 45% to a draw and just 10% to a Columbus victory, with the advice of a “Double chance: Nashville SC or draw”. That reflects Nashville’s excellent home record, superior Eastern Conference standings and stronger recent form, set against Columbus’ struggles on the road and mixed season overall.