- Home form: Nashville SC are unbeaten in five home MLS 2026 games, winning four and drawing one.
- Away form: New York City FC are undefeated in their last three MLS 2026 away games, winning two and drawing one.
- Player form: Nashville SC’s Sam Surridge has scored nine goals in seven MLS 2026 appearances.
Tight, tactical battle in Tennessee
Nashville SC, on the back of a 3-0 away win over New England Revolution and a 3-2 home win over Los Angeles FC, are on a two-game winning streak in MLS 2026. However, New York City FC should not be underestimated as an opponent on Sunday as they have won three, drawn one and lost just one of their last five MLS 2026 matches.
BJ Callaghan has done a fantastic job since July 2024 at Nashville SC, who now sit third in MLS 2026 with 24 points from their first 11 games. Callaghan has combined pragmatism, defensive discipline and tactical flexibility, allowing his players to be a tight, compact unit when out of possession and a fast, vertical attacking force on the break.
They have been particularly tough to beat at home in MLS 2026, winning four and drawing one of their five home games so far. On Sunday, they face a New York City FC side who have played some fantastic soccer in 2026, but have had a much tougher time of it so far, sitting 16th in the table with 15 points from their opening 12 games.
Wolf leading the way for NYCFC
Manager and tactics
Pascal Jansen has made a good fist of NYCFC since arriving in January 2025, encouraging his players to play at a high tempo, with energy and a strong pressing game. They also play with possession when they can and have a varied set of attacking shapes to accommodate the likes of Nicolas Fernandez, who leads the line with eight goals in 12 MLS 2026 games, and Hannes Wolf, who has three in his last five.
Prediction and odds
With both sides in solid form and some in-form goalscorers at the top of their games, we’re expecting this to be a high-scoring, entertaining fixture in which both teams can score. The odds for over 2.5 goals, set at 1.85, aren’t attractive though, but both teams to score, at 1.71, looks like the way to go.
- New York City FC are undefeated in their last three MLS 2026 away games, winning two and drawing one.
- They have been particularly tough to beat at home in MLS 2026, winning four and drawing one of their five home games so far.
- Nashville SC’s Sam Surridge has scored nine goals in seven MLS 2026 appearances.
Nashville can edge a thriller at GEODIS Park
New York City FC may have the momentum in this fixture, edging Nashville SC 2-1 at home in MLS 2025, but the visitors have failed to win on their two previous trips to Nashville. We think they will struggle to match Nashville’s home record of scoring 3.60 goals per game and conceding an average of just 1.20 across MLS 2026.
The hosts should edge out a home victory at 1.83, while Warren Madrigal, who has been clinical for Nashville of late, could add to his recent tally of 2 goals in their last 5 matches with an effort against New York City FC’s defence.
