- Team form: D.C. United's form is mixed to poor and they have drawn their last three matches.
- Opponents form: Nashville SC are in red-hot form, winning their last five games and conceding only 0.29 goals per game.
- Home defence: D.C. United have conceded 16 goals (2.29 per game) at home in MLS 2026.
D.C. United’s season is unravelling
Form and standings
D.C. United are struggling this season and things aren't looking up as Nashville SC take to Audi Field this weekend. Nashville are 1st in MLS 2026 with 39 points from 16 games, while D.C. United are 20th with 19 points from as many games.
Recent results
The home team is winless in their last 5 matches, but they have been drawing of late. Last time out they held Houston Dynamo FC to a 1-1 draw away, were involved in a 4-4 thriller with CF Montreal at home and drew 1-1 with St. Louis City on their home field. Those results have certainly set the scene for an open, entertaining game on Saturday.
Tactics
René Weiler has done a good job at D.C. United since taking over in July 2025, but this season has been a step backwards for the club. The Black and Red set up in a compact 4-2-3-1/4-3-3, sit in a midblock and try to spring vertical counters.
Nashville are on a roll
B.J. Callaghan has done a great job since taking over at Nashville SC in July 2024 and they now look a cohesive, aggressive and tactically sharp unit. They play a narrow 4-2-2-2, they fill the center of the field and they are coordinated enough to win the ball back with waves of pressure.
Nashville are the slight favorites at 2.27, D.C. are at 3.15 and the draw is 3.4, but we think there's a good chance the home side can snag a point or even cause an upset given they have been on a draw streak and the last head-to-head finished 2-2 in Nashville in MLS 2026. However, Nashville have the quality and momentum to pull it off, so we are going to edge towards the visitors.
An open game on the cards?
The clash of D.C.'s width and Nashville's central overloads will be the chessboard in this game and should make for an interesting game.
Both teams to score at 1.72 and over 2.5 goals at 1.91 seem likely, while we are taking Nashville to win 2-1 at 2.27 as they are the team in form and their away record in MLS 2026 is elite.
- Tai Baribo has been the most trusted by Weiler this year, making 13 appearances and scoring 9 goals – the most by any D.C. player.
- Baribo has 3 goals in his last 9 appearances for the Black and Red, but Nashville will have a tough task keeping Cristian Espinoza quiet as he has 3 assists in his last 5 games.
- D.C. have conceded 16 goals at Audi Field, while Nashville have scored 1.14 goals on average away and conceded a measly 0.29.
