After a two week international break, the Chicago Fire are back in action, facing their sternest test yet in their 2026 campaign as they take on Nashville SC, the current Supporters’ Shield leader in the standings at Soldier Field this Saturday.
Even disregarding their undefeated start to 2026 ‒ now at nine games across all competitions ‒ this fixture always figured to be a tough one for the Fire, who have just one win and two draws in nine games since Nashville joined MLS as they’ve been outscored 22-5 in the matchup.

When asked about the team’s dismal record against Nashville, however, Gregg Berhalter, was unfazed, saying “I think there's obviously a record that we have against certain opponents that you want to change. When was the last time we won in Philly? 2013, yeah, so a 13-year drought of a win, and we got the win. When you hear stuff like that, I think it heightens the focus.”

Djé D’Avilla, whose third appearance for the Fire – and first action outside of the dying minutes of a game – came as part of the team’s record-breaking loss in Nashville last April, thinks the opponent provides extra motivation, saying “I think it's not an easy game, but I think we can do it, because we have revenge also; because last year, we played against them two times and we lost. This game is an opportunity to show how we grow as a team.”

What to Expect

Nashville SC

Last year, Head Coach BJ Callaghan evolved Nashville’s style in his first full year in the dugout for the team. Inheriting a squad with a talented roster but who had been used to a kill-'em-on-the-counter style of play, he moved to a more possession-oriented system that let the skill on the roster really shine through.

As a result, Nashville’s potent attacking core and strong positional play led the team to their first competitive trophy win, and the first in the history of top-flight pro sports in Tennessee, with their U.S. Open Cup win. And they sent the Fire to their worst defeat in team history along the journey.

This year, they’ve added Cristian Espinoza, one of the most effective wingers in MLS, was picked up in the off-season after the San Jose Earthquakes – and you can’t make this up – forgot to pick up the Argentine attacker’s option to their attack. “With Espinoza,” Berhalter said, “they have quality. It may not be the same dynamic they had running behind” as they had last season with Jacob Schaffelburg in the role, “but it's a player that can make the difference in the penalty box. You see that's where they've improved, and they've gotten much better.” Nashville has also moved on from center back Walker Zimmerman, amongst a handful of other moves.

So far in 2026, Nashville have been undefeated across all competitions, with four wins in MLS play, even as they’ve had to rotate the squad to account for CONCACAF Champions Cup matchups. That includes a pair of games against Inter Miami, where Nashville were finally able to move past the team from South Florida after encountering them in seemingly almost every knockout competition shared between the two teams.

With Nashville set to host Club América in CONCACAF play on Tuesday, expect Callaghan to play a rotated squad against the Fire – but even if players like Hany Mukhtar and Sam Surridge don’t start, it isn’t like they won’t be available if needed off the bench.

Chicago Fire

In the Fire’s first five games, they’ve yet to field the same Starting XI twice in a row. That’d be one thing if it was Berhalter trusting the depth of his squad, but in this case, it’s largely forced moves because some players haven’t been available.

That, unfortunately, looks set to continue.

Ahead of the Fire’s game against Philadelphia, center back Jack Elliott, typically the team’s captain, announced that he had been diagnosed with sepsis and, although he was recovering, he wouldn’t be available. “What we could see when he reintegrated into training,” Berhalter said on Thursday, “was it took a toll on him. He lost, I think, eight pounds in total and he was fatigued the first couple days of training,” telling reporters that the captain would be a “game-time decision.” 

Left-back Andrew Gutman was also not seen in training on Thursday, which may clear the way for Viktor Radojević’s first start after an impressive debut off the bench against the Union two weeks ago.

In addition, the Fire had seven players for international duty over the break. As of Thursday’s press conference, six were back – but not Mbekezeli Mbokazi, whose 21-hour-journey back was delayed by a day after Bafana Bafana played a pair of matches against Panama in South Africa. How he’ll be feeling ‒ and if he’ll be ready to play ‒ after the return journey and time difference still isn’t clear.

If Elliott and Mbokazi can’t start, the Fire will likely look to Joel Waterman to provide stability with Chrostopher Cupps seeing his first start of 2026 next to him. My bet, though? If they’re close to ready, Berhalter will start Elliott and Mbokazi.

Predicted Lineup